Chapter 13

100AG

30th Day of the 10th Month

They ended up staying around practicing Earthbending for a little while more, until one day, Toph decided enough was enough, and she was tired of teaching Aang the things he was perfecting already. So Zuko had started to take over with Firebending lessons, and Aang started to pick those up as well relatively quickly. So there was nothing left to do but go in search of a water bending master. So they immediately turned to Sokka for help.

Sokka pried every fold of his mind for a possible master, but the only name he managed to push out was a weak, "Katara?"

Toph had punched him in the same place she always did, and as he exclaimed, "What was that for?" She did not reply, and turned her head away from him.

Zuko, however, looked quite serious. "Maybe…maybe."

Sokka suddenly felt scared. "I don't think that is a really good idea. She's really angry, why would she align with us. There has to be a catalyst, then we can try to get her on our side, y'know?"

Zuko seemed to plunge deeper into thought. "Good idea. Could we be the catalyst?"

"Zuko. Why are you taking this seriously?" Toph whined. "She is never going to join us. I reckon she'd rather kill us than join us."

Zuko shrugged his shoulder in innocence. "Do you have a better idea?"

"No." Toph said proudly.

"Maybe we can find a defector." Aang said.

Sokka thought for a minute. "Possible, but if a waterbender defected then I doubt that they would be alive. The Water Tribe doesn't care much about normal ordinary commoners defecting, but waterbenders are a different story."

"You guy's sure do make it hard, don't you?" Zuko groaned.

"Hard as ice." Aang chipped in. Zuko scowled.

"Let's just chill for a bit." Toph added. When Zuko flicked at her forehead, she protested, "That was not intentional! Anyways, let's just relax and enjoy ourselves a little bit! We've only been practicing and eating and practicing and eating. Let's have a feast!"

And so they did. Sokka enjoyed himself very, very much.

A few days after the feast, the group decided that they should start looking for a teacher. Aang reckoned if they looked long enough, they would find someone. Everyone knew it would be hardest to get a waterbending teacher, so they were glad they still had time. But Zuko could feel something coming, and he was right. As they were taking a break, eating sausage and fruit cake, a hawk landed by Zuko, holding a roll of crisp white parchment, stamped with a Fire Nation seal. He plucked the scroll free and unfurled it. His friends gathered around him and read it together with him.

Zuko: Come back. Father needs you. -Azula

Sokka seemed a little upset over this note, especially after Zuko said he must go. "You're leaving me with the little kids?" He exclaimed (in front of Toph), which was a mistake because she punched him again.

"Sorry," Zuko said. "But I won't disobey the Fire Lord." He said, emphasising the last two words. Sokka, still disgruntled, had to agree.

Aang seemed upset too. "Gosh, I haven't been without you since I woke up, Zuk."

"Don't call me Zuk." Zuko insisted. "But I have to go. No such thing as getting away with disobeying the Fire Lord."

—

Ozai called for this daughter for the second time that day. "Please tell me again what you told me yesterday."

The Princess told him. Ozai nodded, a look of anger crossing his face. "Thank you." A servant appeared at the main entrance. "The prince is here."

"Show him in," Ozai ordered. As the Prince entered, Ozai opened his arms wide, but his son did not come forward to hug him. "Prince. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes? It has been so long."

The Prince nodded. "It has been too long. Have you received my letters?"

"Yes, and read every single one of them," Ozai lied. "How I miss my son."

The Prince smiled, just a little bit. Ozai could tell that that pleased the Prince. He continued on. "What have you learned on your journey, my son?"

"A lot, father. I feel it will come to a close soon."

Ozai looked down at his son with an intensity that surprised the Prince. There was a glimmer of something to be feared in his all too-knowing eyes. "Firebending, perhaps?"

The Prince started. "Of course not Father. I would never."

Ozai felt his palms grow warm. He felt he could burn the wood of his throne.

"Learning with the Avatar, I hear," Ozai continued. He could see the fear in the Prince's eyes - all signalling his guilt.

"No. I am not. I am alone."

"Don't lie, brother." His daughter emerged from behind the throne. "I helped you. But I was the only one who was honest."

"Azula." The Prince sneered. "You are jealous! That's why you told him!"

Ozai suddenly felt the flame flare up in him, and fire burst from his palm. "She told me the truth! Unlike my lying son standing in front of me right now, deceiving and lying straight to my face. No one lies to the Fire Lord. Do you honestly think that I can accept that, Prince?"

"Father, forgive me, but the world needs Aang's help-"

"So an ungrateful son who does not heed his father's wishes now makes excuses? How dare you. You were just looking for an escape, so you can learn to firebend. So you can defeat me?"

"No, father, I would never!"

"If that is what you want, then I accept your challenge. I challenge you to Agni Kai."

The Prince appeared hopeless, his arms hanging limp by his waist. The tears seemed to glimmer in his eyes. Ozai sneered at the pathetic excuse of a son. A liar, a deceiver. Going behind his back could only end one way.

Ozai stalked down the staircase going up to the throne, and led his son to the courtyard. The Prince was not angry, but instead miserable. His face had gotten paler and Ozai could see the defeat in his eyes already. His fingers were clenched into his fists, and he was biting his lip. Ozai walked over to his side of the courtyard, and the Prince took his. The Princess sat by the side, her eyes filled with glee.

"Come on, Prince, show your fire bending skills now. What have you mastered?" Ozai taunted, staring straight across at his son.

"I will not fight you, father." The Prince replied.

"Don't be afraid of hurting me. You will barely graze me. I, however, am someone you should be afraid of hurting you."

The Prince remained still. Ozai was getting tired of waiting.

"I will not fight you." The Prince started to walk away.

Ozai suddenly felt desperate, and something in him screamed as his son walked away. If he leaves, you lose. Ozai watched his son move slowly to the exit, his heart screaming for him to do something. So he did. His heart filled with rage, and the defiance, the nerve, of the Prince, and sent a wall of fire towards him, engulfing the side of the Prince's face, and now the Prince screamed. He clutched his face, and cried out. HIs cries echoed around the empty courtroom.

Then above the crackling of the fire, and the agonising screams of the Prince, rose the cackling laughter of the Princess, who held her stomach as she laughed.

Ozai glided across the courtyard, and the laughing Princess followed, leaving the Prince lying in the sand, the blood dripping down his face, the pain infesting his body, the fire seeping deep into his flesh, burning it forever.