AN: Parts of this chapter seriously made me cry, even after I was pumped on adrenaline from watching the season finale. I can't even feel happy about the season finale. I keep...going over this chapter...and...(walks away sobbing)
Chapter 11: Secrets and Truth
Akierin flew down from the star-filled skies with Hessair at her side. Both the Avatar in her fore talons and the Fire Dragon beside her were affected by their confrontation with Syperis, and they haven't even directly contacted her. This was bad, very bad.
Guards rushed out of the palace to take the Avatar from her, to take him to the royal healer, but she knew that it was just a faint. He would be all right, but both she and her Bond had something they desperately needed to do.
Katara refused to leave her husband's side in fear that the Cold Flame would return. She kept glancing worriedly at him, but he was lost in thought, even his anger at whoever had taken Amulya had nearly vanished.
Zuko kept replaying the conversation he'd had with the Cold Flame. Why had she suddenly gotten upset? Especially when Katara had come in. Something was not right, and he didn't have any clue as to what.
A guard came in, informing them that the Avatar had returned and was unconscious. Katara started out, and then looked back at Zuko, who hadn't moved.
"I can't go Katara. You go on."
She looked at him, pained almost, and then left with the guard.
Zuko went out to the balcony immediately as Hessair came up to join him. Zuko could feel the dragon's pain and quickly looked him over to make sure he wasn't wounded. Hessair sighed.
(My wounds are not physical young one. Demons have this affect on Dragons not used to their scent.)
Zuko's head jerked up. (Demons? Demons have also returned?)
(I believe one is returning, and could be the worst of them all. But please, let me rest for now.)
Zuko nodded and fell silent, a hand resting on his Bond's neck as the Dragon began to sleep. His eyes turned to the star-filled sky, and to the full moon, and his heart was worried. (What is going on?)
In the room next to his, he could hear a young woman telling stories to the noble children while their parents helped search for the missing prince. The story being told at that moment was the story of the final battle, the last battle of the Civil War. Zuko closed his eyes, it had been so much different than the story-teller said.
A make-shift table had been set up in the make-shift camp. A map of Sozun lay on the table. Around the table stood Prince Zuko, his wife Katara, Commanders Aang, Sokka, and Jet, Generals Saiza and Iroh, and Dragons Hessair and Akierin.
The prince pointed to a place behind the city.
"Sokka, remember the cave we escaped through before?"
Sokka nodded.
"I want you and Jet to take your men and come in through the escape route. Akierin and Hessair, you help them get all their men there undetected. Saiza, Iroh, and Aang, you will take your men on a frontal assault, more as a distraction, and wait for Sokka and Jet to open the gates. Katara, you go with them."
"And you Prince Zuko?"
"Momo and I have a special mission. We'll open the escape route trapdoor so Sokka and Jet can get in."
The lemur came running up and landed on Zuko's shoulder and chirruped his approval.
That night, Zuko and the lemur snuck into the preparing capital city surprisingly unnoticed. The troops were feeling the loss of Admiral Zhao, who had been a strong leader, if ruthless.
He slipped into the palace, staying to the shadows, his face hidden by a black veil with matching hood and cloak. His eyes flashed.
Reaching the hidden chamber, he hid in the shadows while Momo took his long forgotten crown and triggered the trapdoor. Sokka and Jet filed in with their men, searching for him. Sokka was the first to spot him when Momo returned to him. They nodded to each other, and the two commanders raced upstairs to join the battle.
Zuko watched until they were all gone, and then he turned and walked back into the corridors. This time, all the guards were gone, and he didn't need to hide. He walked the paths he had walked as a child, to a room he'd only seen once.
His father's.
Fire Lord Ozai stood with his back to his chamber door, on the balcony, overlooking the battle taking place. His heart was heavy. Three children, two dead, and one as good as dead; One was dead by his own hand, One by a hand he commanded, and one turned against him to right what had been wronged.
The door behind him opened, and he turned partially.
Zuko walked in, and shut the door behind him, turning his back to his sire, who watched him as he did so. The Fire Lord did not spring into a battle form at the sight of his son, his greatest enemy, but instead, turned his face back to the battle. Zuko opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off.
"The city of Sozun is taken. You can already see it."
Zuko remained silent, confused. Ozai sighed.
"My children knew what was right, and they tried to tell me, but I didn't listen. I never listened did I?"
Zuko hesitated until he knew an answer was expected. "Not really, no."
"And now, my children are dead to me. It all comes down to this. You've come to kill me Zuko?"
"If that's what it takes."
Ozai nodded. "Before I die, I have something to say. Unlike your forefathers, unlike me, who followed the teachings of my father, the teachings I knew to be wrong, you followed your heart to what was right, and fought for it. You always followed your heart, which is why you will make a historic Fire Lord. People will remember your name until the end of time."
Zuko knew nothing to say, his heart breaking for some unknown reason.
"You have grown into a strong young man. You have great honor, greater than any one I know. Take care of the Fire Nation, as I know you will. I'm proud of you Zuko…my son."
Ozai turned completely to face the Fire Prince. Zuko was frightened by what he saw in his father's eyes. The candles around the room began to dance.
"Father…what are you doing?" Zuko yelled.
The last time Ozai saw his son's face there was no hate, fear, or pain in it, only concern, concern for him. Then the flames blocked him from view.
Zuko stared in horror as the flames began to consume his father. He tried to calm them, to pull them away, but he couldn't, he wasn't strong enough.
The last words Ozai heard his son say would stay with him through eternity as Zuko realized his father was dying.
"I always loved you Father!"
Moments later, there was nothing left of Fire Lord Ozai but ashes, consumed by his own fire.
Zuko fell to his knees before the ashes that once were his proud sire until he saw something that caught his eye. The flame-shaped ornament his father had always worn in his top-knot. He took it, shaking the ashes from it with a trembling hand and placed it behind his armor, just above his heart.
Almost desperately, Zuko cast his gaze around. It fell on an ornamental vase on the shelf above his mother's vanity, with a cap. Scooping up his father's ashes, he placed them in the vase and sealed the cap on with a thin cord of fire. Placing it carefully on his mother's vanity so he would not miss it, he knelt and bowed his head in proper respect.
Masking his pain with a look of victory, he left his father's chambers and went down to the battle. Walking out onto the front steps of the palace, he shouted to the masses that turned to look at him.
"Fire Lord Ozai is dead! The Civil War of the Fire Nation is over!"
For a moment, there was dead silence. Then, Guerrier Reels cheered and the loyal Fire Nation soldiers bowed to their new Fire Lord.
Zuko had carried the secret of the true way his father had died with him since the night it happened, and he would carry it to his grave. His gaze turned and fell on the vase, the vase that held his father's ashes, unshed tears glistening in his eyes.
Maida turned to stare at Ajayi in horror. "Zhao? Your name is Zhao?"
Ajayi was glaring at Wakari, who was smirking. "It was my name, before, but now it matters nothing to me."
Wakari hissed angrily. "Matters nothing? Your new name has hidden you from the Fire Lord for sixteen years! If not you would be dead now! You took Maida and now Amulya from their homes and..."
"SHUT UP! Don't listen to him Maida! He's a spy from the Fire Nation! His real name is Hezier! He's trying to turn us against each other!"
"I'm the only one here speaking the truth! That man, the man you know as Ajayi, Maida, he kidnapped you from your home when you were three! But he knew I was a spy and wouldn't let me leave again, to tell your father where you were! He's fed you lies until you trust him, and turned you against your own father!"
"He's lying Maida! I love you and I would never hurt you! Your parents are dead, I've never lied to you!"
But Maida was frozen, her eyes locked on Ajayi/Zhao in horror. Ajayi had not yet noticed this, but Wakari had. Maida's thoughts had turned back to the vision in Aunt Wu's shop.
"It will take more than a few flames to stop me Zhao, and you don't have the strength to battle me."
Zhao grinned sadistically. "Then I best put it where it'll do the most damage."
And he hurled a fire wall at Katara. There was no way she could avoid it.
Ajayi was glaring at Wakari, and Wakari smirked at him.
"Look at her Zhao. She knows."
Ajayi turned and looked at Maida, and their eyes met. Her eyes were brimming over with unshed tears, but behind the tears was golden anger.
Sokka was sitting out in front of his home, listening to the sounds of Kyoshi Island. He'd chosen to live here after the war, especially after he and Suki were wed. After several hours worth of training, Sokka could hear his wife preparing a speedy supper. Sokka stood and began to pace, unable to keep still. Something was wrong, and he didn't know what. He was thinking of his sister, now the Fire Lady, and his closest friend, once his greatest enemy.
Through the Civil War, Sokka and Zuko had become closer than any, relying on each other in everyday life as well as in battle. Sokka had never referred to the Fire Prince as his brother-in-law, always his brother. Zuko had even offered him a home in the Fire Nation, but Suki hadn't wanted to leave her home.
When Maida had been born, Sokka had been named godfather. Aang and Jet were named uncles, even though they were not of blood. When Maida had been taken, Sokka had gone with Zuko as they scoured the earth searching for her. He remembered the day they'd searched the last city only to have their hopes dashed once more. But Zuko, he'd kept himself going, saying to himself over and over again, she's in the next city. But then, there were no more cities to search.
Zuko stood just outside the city, overlooking the sea. When Sokka went to stand beside him, the Fire Lord seemed to be in a state of shock. His mouth hung partly open, his eyes were wide and unfocused, and he was trembling.
"Zuko…"
The new Fire Lord broke, falling to his knees and then his hands with a despairing cry. Choked sobs echoed over the silent crowd that had been helping them look for the missing princess.
Sokka knelt and pulled his brother up and into his arms, holding him, soothing him. He would not be able to fathom the sorrow Zuko felt for a few more years, never knowing that feeling of fatherly protection, but when he did, he only felt more for his brother.
"Hush now my brother, things will be all right."
In the eyes of the Earth Kingdom townspeople, they saw, truly saw, that fire-benders were human as well.
A red falcon dropped from the sky, and landed on Sokka's outstretched fist. The Lord of Kyoshi unfurled the parchment and read what his sister had written. His eyes widened in horror and the paper fell from his hands as the falcon took flight. He turned to the house and called his wife out. Their son and daughter came out with her.
"What's wrong Sokka?"
"Amulya's missing, and I'm going to Sozun. Stay here."
Suki nodded, tears filling her eyes as she felt the sorrow her sister and brother of the Fire Nation must be feeling ten times over. Sokka knelt and kissed both children on their foreheads and they hugged him.
"Love you Daddy."
"Say hello to Aunt Katara and Uncle Zuko for us."
"Be safe my love." Sokka kissed his wife and started towards the back to get a horse when a gray-green dragon landed in front of their house. Sokka grinned.
"Zerfrim." The young dragon was trembling in excitement.
(Something is stirring! Something is going to happen! Come! Come! We go to Sozun! Come!)
Sokka smirked at the dragon, for though they were not Bonded, they had been friends from the dragon's birth. He took his place on Zerfrim's back and they flew off.
Far west of the Fire Nation, past the horizon, past the realm of reality and human knowledge, a great beast stirred from his sleep. Olome rose and sniffed the air, stretching his wings as he stood. His golden eyes narrowed, a white scar running across the right eye, as his mind registered what was happening. His people began to stir as well.
"Olome, what is wrong?" Naiili looked at him worriedly, and his eyes softened as he looked upon his neice.
"The humans will soon need our help. Let us pray we can give it."
The black dragon turned his gaze to the mighty dormant volcano, rising from the sea, and turned to his own thoughts as Naiili returned to her family.
"For if what I suspect is true…" he sighed. "…Saitrie help us."
"You were an Admiral in Fire Lord Ozai's army, against Zuko's army, when he was still a prince." Maida was trembling, but it wasn't with fear or sorrow. "You tried to kill my mother on the day that my father killed you."
Maida was angry, but she expected surprise, maybe a little regret. He had kissed her, loved her, protected her, but there was no remorse in Ajayi's eyes. In fact, he was smirking.
"I should've known you'd figure it out. You truly are your father's daughter. Zuko and I have never been on good terms, to put it lightly. Kidnapping you was little more than revenge. Too bad though, I had other plans for you."
Maida screamed in anger, rearing her arm back to send a fireball at the man she'd once trusted with her life, but he beat her to it.
The fireball caught her in the stomach and sent her flying back. She slammed into a tree with a startled 'oof.'
Wakari yelled in anger and attacked Ajayi.
Maida opened her eyes blearily, then turned her head and was quietly sick. Once her stomach was empty, she looked at the two men fighting, unable to register what was happening. Too much had happened to her that night, but the night was still young.
Ajayi blocked a fire blast while he drew a hidden dagger. Wakari stepped too close and Ajayi brought the dagger up, stabbing low and pushing up underneath his ribs to penetrate the heart.
Wakari gasped and fell to his knees before collapsing, and Ajayi turned to Maida, stepping over to her quickly. Grasping her hair, he picked her up and tilted her head back, exposing her throat, and pressed the already blood-soaked dagger to the vital vein.
ZK
ZK
Next chapter goes to whoever can guess which part made me cry!
Pronunciations:
OlomeO-lo-may
NaiiliNi-yih-lee
