A/N: Okay, so the events in this chapter take place shortly after Zuko and the others leave to search for Azula and Kaval.
Iroh watched as the sky-bison grew smaller as it flew away. With the Royal Guards behind him, the interim Fire Lord turned on his heel and marched back to the Palace. There was much on his mind, worrying about what would happen if Zuko and the others did manage to find this Kaval person and if he was truly an airbender. He sighed, folding his arms over his chest as he stopped just at the top of the stairs.
"My Lord, is everything alright?" one of the guards asked.
"Do you care to summon a palanquin and a tea set for this old man?" Iroh turned and asked with a grin.
"Of course," the guard replied. "But why the tea seat?"
"I wish to go and speak with my brother," Iroh explained. "And I would very much enjoy some jasmine tea."
Iroh stood there, the guard behind him holding the tea set as they watched the Head Prison Guard open the door for Ozai's cell. The door swung open, Iroh nodding to the guard who placed down the tea set on the floor. The old man sat down lotus style, dismissing the two guards. As he heard the door close behind him, Iroh began pouring the tea before he lit the two torches. The light revealed Ozai there, sitting lotus style and staring at his older brother.
"What are you doing here?" Ozai asked.
"Tea, Ozai?" Iroh asked, ignoring his brother's question and sliding forward one of the porcelain cups to Ozai.
"I see you're still an old fool," Ozai snickered, taking the cup from the ground.
"I must ask you something, brother," Iroh said after sipping his tea.
Ozai's smirk vanished, being replaced by one of confusion as he raised his brow. He was more shocked on how Iroh still referred to him as a brother after everything that had happened the last year.
"And what is that, brother?"
"Why do you torture Zuko so much?"
The old Fire Lord couldn't help but choke on his tea, breaking out into a loud cackle as he placed the cup down. He reached up, wiping his mouth with his tattered sleeve. His golden eyes gleamed as he leaned forward in his cell, pressing his face against the metal bars. Here, Iroh could see the bruising under Ozai's eyes from when Zuko broke his nose. Iroh would be lying if he didn't internally chuckle at the sight.
"Fire Lord Zuko is a weakling," Ozai snapped. "He's a disgrace to the throne and everything that it stands for."
"And just what does it stand for?"
"Power," Ozai yelled. "There is so much power behind being the Fire Lord. Our true purpose is to rule, Iroh. We are conquerors, hell bound on driving this world to break and bow to us. That little shit for a son fails to see that. He should've just stayed away and let Azula become the Fire Lord."
"Is that what you truly believe?"
Ozai chuckled, pushing his empty tea cup back at Iroh. "It is what our destiny is."
"You truly are a monster, Ozai," Iroh sighed. "For the longest time, I tried convincing Zuko that there was some humanity left inside of you."
Ozai sneered. "It seems you were wrong."
"So it does."
Iroh stood, turning and banging on the door before stepping back. The guards came in, picking up the tea set before walking back out of the cell.
"Why were you really here, dear brother?" Ozai sneered. "I know it wasn't just to ask me about little old Zuko."
"This is the last time that you'll ever see me or Zuko," Iroh declared. "When he returns, I will advise him to lock you away forever."
Ozai only smirked as he leaned back into his cell, laughing lowly as Iroh snuffed the flames of the torches. He watched the door slam shut, his laugh growing into a full cackle as he fell down to his face, staring up at the ceiling. This was his destiny, after all. He knew that he had to embrace it. And yet, he knew that he didn't as well. If there was one thing he learned from Iroh, it was that destiny worked in mysterious ways.
The moon was hanging high in the air tonight in the Fire Nation. The shadows were dancing in the light, swiftly covering their way through every little nook and cranny that they could fit in. They moved with the shadows, their footsteps barely leaving a hint of sound as they slid with the night. They made sure to stay out of the lights from the torches, motioning towards each other as the Prison Tower slowly came into view. With simple nods, they were off again, beginning to take count of the guards that were taking alternating routes on their patrol around the prison.
"Shit," one voice said. "This would have to be precise."
"Agreed, Tayla," the other said.
"What do we do, Nero?"
Nero sighed, turning around and staring at their earthbender. "Kato, wait here. Once we clear those guards, then you'll move it."
Kato nodded, sinking back into the shadows. The two stealthier warriors continued their dance with the shadows, taking account of the four guards that walked circles around the Prison Tower. They revealed the daggers hidden in their sleeves, both slowly making their way closer and closer to the tower. Two guards were always in the front and two were always in the back, making it a bit easier for the two killers.
Nero nodded, Tayla nodding back before she took off towards the back of the tower. The man smirked, twirling his dagger in his hand before he took off running. His feet were silent as he approached the first guard. By the time the guard registered what was happening around him, Nero was already sliding through his legs. He flipped up, pulling out another dagger and tossing it at the other guard. It pierced the guard's forehead with a loud thud.
With the other dagger, Nero quickly flipped up and stabbed the guard in the back, feeling his blade pierce the spine. The guard gasped once before feeling the blade leave his skin and piece up his sides. Nero chuckled, stepping back as he pulled the dagger out and wiped the blood on the other guard, who was dead before he even hit the ground. Looking up, his eyes widened as the sound of flames roared around him before a body hit the ground.
"Tayla," Nero almost yelled.
He took off in a sprint, running around the tower. A haunting image flashed in his mind as his thoughts ran rampant. Nero skidded to a halt, seeing Tayla pulling out her dagger out of the guard's eye. She looked up, smiling widely as she dusted herself off.
"Were you worried?" Tayla taunted, sauntering up to Nero.
"I saw the fire," Nero whispered.
Tayla only chuckled softly, reaching up and pulling down Nero's mask and kissing him lightly on the lips. She fixed his mask, giving a small wink before she began walking around the prison again. Nero chuckled, hiding his dagger again and walking behind her. By the time they reached the other side of the tower, Kato was already there, his arms crossed over his chest.
"What happened?" Kato asked. "I saw the fire and Nero running off."
"Tayla was being a tease," Nero smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"And?" Tayla said, raising a brow. "Kato, could you be a dear and open these doors? They seemed to be locked."
Nero rolled his eyes and Kato only shrugged and stepped forward. With an exhale, he dug his hands into the metal. They watched as Kato balled the metal into his fists, grunting as he ripped the metal doors off its hinges, tossing them aside.
"A little loud, if you ask me," came a voice from inside. "You are late."
The guard that was responsible for Ozai's cell was standing there, his arms crossed over his armored chest. He removed his helmet, letting his hair drape to his shoulders as he stepped forward.
"We had complications at our last mission," Nero snapped. "We're short one earthbender now."
"Does Kaval know?" The guard asked.
"That bastard doesn't give a shit," Kato spat. "All he cares for is this mission and about these harbingers or whatever they're called."
"Enough," Tayla roared, walking between the men to the guard. "What I really want to know is can we trust this Fire Nation guard?"
The guard narrowed his eyes, stepping forward and standing over Tayla. He breathed out steam from his nostrils, his golden eyes gleaming.
"I am Jafat," the guard sneered. "My family has served the Fire Lords since the Family of Sozin took over. My loyalty will always be to Ozai, the true ruler of the Fire Nation and its people."
"So dramatic," Tayla said, nodding and walking up the stairs to Ozai's cell.
All four were up the stairs now, Jafat walking forward and inserting the key into the lock. As he pushed the door open, he shot two flames at the torches. They could hear Ozai rustling, his body rising and shooting glares at the guard.
"What do you want?"
"We bring your freedom, Ozai," Nero snickered.
"Ah, so Kaval has finally came through," Ozai said, rising to his feet. "I was beginning to wonder if that trash would ever fulfill what he promised."
"Well, today's your lucky day then," Nero said, turning to Jafat. "Now, open the cell and let him out."
Jafat nodded, walking towards the cell and sliding in another key. By the time Jafat opened the cell door, Ozai rounded on him, pinning him to the floor and straddled his chest. The three just watched as Ozai snarled, and slammed Jafat's head into the ground over and over again. Nero couldn't help but flinch as the sound of the guard's skull cracking echoed in the cell. Jafat soon stopped moving, his body limp with a pool of blood beginning to form under him.
"Now," Ozai sneered, standing up straight and rolling his shoulders. "Let's get out of here. The Phoenix King shall rise again now."
By the time they were out of the prison, the sound of alarms was echoing loudly. Nero cursed under his breath as they could see flames getting closer to them from the direction of the Palace.
"Kato, if you don't mind."
The earthbender nodded, stomping on the ground and raising the earth below them. He began circling his arms, the tower of earth now sliding through the city. They watched as flames roared past them or came up short. Ozai had a look of pure distaste on his face, wanting to punish those who had so quickly went against him and sided with his weak excuse of a son.
"Where does Kaval plan to have me stay?" Ozai asked.
"The North Pole," Nero answered. "There's a Spirit Portal there."
"I hate the cold," Ozai sneered.
"We all do," Tayla added as they finally broke over the edge of the volcano and down to the Docks.
Waiting for them was the flagship they had stolen, waiting with a crew for them to take off and head to the North Pole.
The Phoenix King had risen from the ashes.
"Fire Lord Iroh, what shall we do?"
Iroh sighed, rubbing his temple as he stared down at the Council of Fire. The entire Capital was in an uproar as word quickly spread that Ozai had escaped from prison.
"We must send notice to my nephew," Iroh ordered. "After that, I want you to send another messenger hawk to all bounty hunters we know. Promise them as much as they want for the capture of Ozai. We shall also send our own forces after the flagship they managed to procure."
The Council nodded, quickly muttering to the other servants around them and sending them off with new orders. On top of the dais, Iroh let out another sigh as he buried his face into his hands. This was not something that he was expecting, and he prayed to Agni that Zuko would be okay when the world came crashing down on him.