Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar, its characters, or a PS3.

Aang, Katara, Toph, and Zuko stood around the grave, three of them staring in slack jawed awe, and one asking why. Lu Ten's corpse was far from normal. It hadn't decayed at all, and it seems as though he were sleeping. However, to put it at that would be to totally miss the main problem. His face was gone.

"What could've happened?" Katara wondered.

"What are you talking about? Could someone clue me in?" Toph yelled.

"His face was stolen by Koh." Aang said.

"What? Who's he?" Toph asked.

"He's a spirit I met on a journey to the spirit world, when we were at the North Pole. He told me about the moon and ocean spirits choosing corporeal forms to be with the Waterbenders. However, if you showed emotion, he would steal your face. A past Avatar had his girlfriend's face stolen. When I talked to him, he changed through the faces he had collected." Aang replied.

"Could he have stolen Lu Ten's face? It's rumored that my uncle has been to the spirit world. Maybe he took his son with him?" Zuko asked.

"Well, I remember him saying something like that it has been a long time since he stole a child's face. Perhaps he was talking about Lu Ten." Aang responded. "But, it doesn't matter. Iroh is in the spirit world either way. And I have to go after him.

Aang sat down in the normal cross-legged position. He felt strong spirit energy under the tree on the hill. In nearly an instant, he felt himself leave his body. He was in the spirit world. He began his way to Koh's cave, hoping he would find Iroh there.

The balloon landed, and Ozai, Zhao, and Azula stepped out of it. They were at the temples of the Sun Warriors, where Zuko had relearned firebending with Aang. They were in front of the Eternal Flame.

"Ozai, look into the flame." Zhao said. "It has been burning for centuries. If there's anything that can get your bending back, this is it." Ozai gazed into the fire. It was perfect, pure, ancient. He could almost feel the fire coming back within him. Almost.

Suddenly and without warning, he felt a push on his back. He fell into the flame. It engulfed him, every part of his body was on fire, the pain was unbearable, but still, he would not die.

Behind him, he heard Zhao laughing. The sound was cruel, a mockery of the once great tyrant. Azula could do nothing but stand there, with a certain look in her eye. Then, she too, began laughing.

"Why, Zhao? Why?" Ozai screamed through the fire.

"Ozai, what makes you think it was me? I didn't touch you! It was your own daughter!"

Those were the last words Ozai ever heard, along with the sound of his daughter's laughter. The fire consumed him, and his body gave up, there was no escape. No final thoughts, no heroic and honorable words to end on. Finally, he knew the pain and misery he had brought onto the entire world. But, it didn't really matter. Whatever Azula and Zhao had in their minds was much worse.

Zhao had left for the balloon shortly after he sensed Ozai was gone. But Azula remained until there was no body, no charred corpse. The entire time smiling as her father was taken away by the flame. Only after he was entirely gone did she turn around and walk away.

"Are we going now, Zhao?" asked Azula.

"No, there's still work to be done here." Zhao replied. "Soon we shall have the ultimate power, and none will stand in our way, not even the Avatar!

Aang walked into the cave. There, he saw Iroh and Koh facing each other, talking. Suddenly, Koh looked Aang's way, but the only response was a blank stare. Koh, silently cursing the boy, slithered up to him on his legs.

"Welcome, Avatar. I told you we'd meet again. And it seems we have. It is quite nice to see you again, maybe this time I'll keep you here?" Koh asked in a menacing tone.

"I doubt it." said Iroh. "He is not here for you. I am. Let him go, and we shall finish our business. You will give me my son. Anything else you do will lead to your death, of this I can assure you."

"You think so? Not even an Avatar can defeat me! I am invincible, indestructible, immortal! And you think you can take my life away, just for your son? It you who shall die!"

"We will see." said Iroh. "Aang, stay out of this, it is my fight, not yours." Aang stepped to the side of the cave, and watched as the two forces went after each other, and he dared not get between them. Iroh had no fire, but the way he began the fight, it looked as if he did not need it. Pulling out two broadswords from underneath his cloak, he rushed at Koh, discipline showing as his face renamed the same, and unrelenting mass of no emotion. Aang could feel it deep inside, but only the face kept it down. Iroh knew this was the right thing to do, something ignoble for a noble cause. The two, Iroh and Koh, met and began their fight.

Hey everybody! I'm here to tell you about the importance of editing! Typing at 4:15 a.m. can be a real hassle, and sometimes random stuff will flood onto the page, like this debacle I had to edit from Chapter 11: Sokkas was terrified of a group of people he saw attack the car in his dreams. They were almost alt at the party, The three figures he saw burning inward, but did not attack. Standing by his locker, the three simply waited, waiting for a perfect opportunity to strike. I'm not joking. That was actually written down on my computer. I was that tired. Aren't you glad I proofread?

If you're bored, why not go see The Dark Knight? If you've already seen it, why not see it again with someone who hasn't? If you've already seen it five times or more congratulations! You are now my best friend!

This sadly, shall be the last time I tell you to review. It's fruitless. You can if you want to, but my r, e, v, i, and w keys are getting worn.