Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

Chapter 25

Failure

"Zuko," Ozai said in an amused tone. His gaze shifted to his daughter. "And you brought your sister. Now if only Iroh were here we could have another family reunion."

"You are not a part of this family," Zuko growled. "You lost that honor a long time ago."

"Mind your tongue, boy," Ozai warned menacingly. "I can and will finish what I started with your face."

"You'll have to go through me first!" Aang shouted. "I won't let you hurt anyone else!"

"Insolent child," Ozai scoffed. "Zhao, take care of him."

Zhao eagerly followed his boss' order. He charged forward with the wild fury of a savage animal and struck at Aang only to discover he was no longer there. He swerved in a wide arching back swing and struck air as Aang ducked under the blow. The edge of Aang's hand landed softly dead center between Zhao's shoulder blades. Every following attempt to bring Aang into his line of sight was thwarted with ease as Aang mimicked his movements.

"Stop dancing around and fight me!" Zhao screamed.

In compliance with Zhao's demand, Aang used his left foot to force Zhao's left foot forward and outward in order to broaden his stance. Now that he was off balance, Zhao was easy prey for Aang. Aang took hold of Zhao's left wrist and forced it behind his back. In the same motion, Aang pulled back Zhao's collar with his right hand and followed up by wrapping the entirety of his arm around Zhao's neck, capturing his movements completely. Zhao found himself caught bending backwards with one arm stuck in a vice grip behind his back and his one free arm unable to reach his opponent. If he were to attempt to move, his balance would give and he would be even more vulnerable.

"I challenged you, Ozai!" Aang called out as he swung his hips and tossed Zhao back towards his comrades. "Are you afraid to answer my challenge?"

The crowd roared with mixed responses. Many cheered for the fight to happen, not caring who won as long as there was blood. Some called for Ozai to kill Aang, while others complained of his cowardice at not fighting in the first place. Ozai did not seem to be bothered by the taunts. He still remained focused on his son as he moved towards him.

"Why not you?" he asked with a sneer. "You already said you would kill me if I came near your family. Are you too much of a coward to follow through? Or do you just realize that you are too weak?"

"If you're so strong then why are you avoiding your challenger?" Zuko returned.

As Ozai made to answer, Aang crossed the distance that separated them and stepped between the two men. He stood face to face with Ozai for the first time and their eyes locked. Immediately, Aang felt the anger and the hate that exuded from the man, but there was still so much that he could not see in those eyes. A great wall of resentment and murderous intent drowned out all other emotion that may or may not have been there.

"I give you one more chance to stop this," Aang said quietly.

"I am more than you could ever hope to be," Ozai replied.

The Fire Lord's fist charged towards Aang's head and Aang quickly swayed to the side. The other fist came and when Aang dodged it he followed through with a kick aimed at the Fire Lord's head. Ozai took hold of his ankle and pulled him forwards before striking at Aang's core. A quick swipe of his hand and Aang was able to deflect the attack, and using his free leg to kick at Ozai's head was enough to get his other leg free. So began their dance.

The crowd watched in awe as the two exchanged blows, dodging by a hair's breadth and returning with their own reprisals. The momentum of the fight moved them back and forth, side to side, all over the open floor of the parking garage. All of the gang leaders and Ozai's followers had moved into the crowd to watch what was undoubtedly the fate of Serpent's Pass, possibly the entire city, be decided.

"Go, Aang," Katara spoke softly next to Zuko.

Zuko's eyes narrowed as he watched the fight. Something seemed off, but he could not place what. There was an uneasiness that was lingering since the first swing of the fight. A quick glance to Toph reaffirmed his concerns. He had hoped that his eyes and mind were just playing tricks on him, but the look of irritation on Toph's face told him otherwise.

"What is he doing?" Toph mumbled. "Get in there, Twinkle Toes."

"Stop being a coward, Aang," Zuko agreed.

"He's doing fine," Sokka told her. "He's matching Ozai step for step. He hasn't been hit once!"

"I wouldn't expect you to see the problem with that, Sokka," Zuko said. "There are only two kinds of fighters who can go through an entire fight without ever having a blow landed on them."

"What is he talking about?" Ty Lee asked Azula.

"Yeah, they look even enough to me," Mai agreed.

"I'm surprised at you, Mai," Azula said, eyes never straying from the battle.

"A master," Suki answered. "A master could do it."

"Aang's good, but he's no master," Zuko said. "That means that it's the other kind of fighter."

"Stop talking in circles!" Sokka asked, annoyance growing with his anxiety as he watched Aang fight a convicted murderer. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means he's trying to survive," Toph answered.

Aang moved as quickly as he could between Ozai's attacks. None were easy to dodge and most of them required him to block rather than avoid. He closed his vulnerable openings as quickly as he revealed them with each subsequent attack and refused to give Ozai any clear shot that he could take advantage of.

"Of course he's trying to survive," Ty Lee exclaimed as she pointed out at the fight. "Wouldn't you try to survive? He's fighting for his life! How's he supposed to win if he doesn't survive?"

"He's not trying to win at all," Azula said.

"He's just trying not to lose," Zuko agreed.

"What's the difference?" Mai asked, more interest in her voice than anyone had heard before.

"Everything."

"Toph?" Katara asked.

"Ozai's been open more times than I'd let him stay standing through," Toph explained. "Twinkle Toes isn't attacking at all. He's just playing defense."

"Maybe he's trying to wear him out," Suki suggested. "Aang's got to have more stamina than the Fire Lord."

"Take a good look at him," Zuko said. "Ozai's not even breaking a sweat. Aang's not going to outlast him. And by the way he's fighting, I don't think he even thought that far ahead."

"But he looks like he's doing so well," Katara said. "We should just have faith."

"That's not gonna work here, Sugar Queen," Toph growled. "Aang's holding too much back by not having an offense. He's purposely ignoring every opening so he doesn't leave himself open too. At this rate even if he was just trying to tire Ozai out, he would definitely tire first."

"So you're saying that Aang's going to lose?" Ty Lee asked, fear gripping her heart.

"Unless something changes in the next few seconds."

"What are you so afraid of, boy?" Ozai smirked as he continued his assault.

Aang did not answer as he dodged another attack. His focus remained on following Ozai's movements while trying not to listen to his words.

"You are nothing but a coward," Ozai told him. "I will admit that you possess some skill, but you are too weak to use it. Once you lay broken at my feet my plans will move forward and I will destroy anyone and anything that gets in my way." An evil smile crossed Ozai's face. "Perhaps I'll start with your little blind girlfriend. After all, her family's assets could be useful."

In an instant, Aang felt something in him break away from his strategy and snap. He traced the path of Ozai's swing and spun himself to the Fire Lord's back. His fist swung with a rage that he had only felt once before and stopped his fist beside Ozai's cheek.

"What?" Ozai screamed. He turned to strike at Aang, but the young warrior stayed on Ozai's back.

"Where are you looking, Ozai?"

When Ozai turned to face Aang again, his face was greeted by a closed fist. He stumbled back at the unexpected power behind the boy's attack and stared at his hand as blood trickled onto it from his nose. This boy warranted more attention.

"So you do have a backbone after all," he grinned wickedly.

"I already told you," Aang said. "I won't let you hurt anyone else."

"Try and stop me!"

The speed at which Ozai began to attack was nearly blinding. Aang found it more and more difficult to keep track of the attacks and allowed his body to move more out of instinctive reflex than conscious thought. He could feel the closeness of each blow as either the attack or the air around it grazed his skin.

How did he get so fast? Aang thought in near panic. Have to do something to stop his momentum.

The opportunity refused to present itself. Aang had never seen such a ferocious display of offense, not even from Azula. Each attack was so closely followed by the next that Aang barely had time to breathe let alone counter in any way. There was only one course of action that he could take if he did not want to be overwhelmed by Ozai's assault. As Ozai's attack came, Aang abandoned all his defenses. The result was just what he had expected.

Pain filled Aang's mind as the impact of Ozai's fist sent shock waves through his body. Every part of his brain screamed out at his idiocy, but his body itself stuck to the plan. In the instant that followed after Ozai's fist landing on Aang's chest, Aang used the force to propel his upper body back and his lower body upward. The resulting change in momentum caused Aang's feet to rise into Ozai's chin, knocking them both to the ground.

"Alright, Aang!" Ty Lee cheered as the crowd became more excited by the second.

Aang leaped to his feet and charged Ozai before he could regain his composure. Every breath Aang took was accompanied by a stabbing sensation in his ribs. One or more were possibly cracked, or worse. Paying no attention to his protesting body, Aang launched a volley of attacks that even Ozai had to take up a defensive stance to. The few blows that he was managing to land may have only been superficial, but the longer the fight dragged on the more Ozai would feel them.

Unfortunately the strong offense could not be maintained. Ozai was recovering his balance and soon they were trading blows again. Each passing second Aang began to rely more and more on his body's instincts rather than conscious observation and reaction. That was when the feeling came over him. Some sense of dread as Ozai brought his right fist towards him.

"Something's wrong here," Toph said hastily. "Aang, watch out!"

Aang extended his leg and caught Ozai's striking shoulder just as his fist was about to reach Aang's chest. The kick managed to stop Ozai's strike, but still Ozai smiled at him. Then Aang learned why. Ozai moved his hand into an open palm position, revealing some strange object attached to his hand. Before Aang had any time to wonder what it was, a spark ignited and flame poured over his body.

Aang could not even hear himself scream as his hands pushed into the flames in an attempt to keep them back. The leg that pressed into Ozai's shoulder gave a sudden kick, pushed Ozai back and giving Aang some much needed distance from his opponent. Screams and cheers came from all around him as he swatted at the small fires on his robes.

"Do you see now?" Ozai asked. "You could never hope to defeat me. You'll be ash before you ever get close enough again."

Aang ducked behind one of the supporting pillars of concrete that held the parking garage up. He could hear the roar of the flames that shot forth from Ozai's hand as well as feel them as they licked around his shelter. Screams accompanied the fire as the crowd backed away from Ozai's unfeeling attack. He was cornered.

"You are weak!" Ozai screamed. "You should not even be here! You were never meant to be here! I'll burn you away to nothing! Now die!"

Aang knew that he was only standing at the moment because of the adrenaline running through his body. He needed to use that. No time to hesitate. Charging into the flames would be less dangerous than spending precious time trying to avoid them. It was likely that whatever that device was it was attached to both hands. As long as Aang stayed aware of both hands' positions he could still manage to do something here. He charged.

"Brave," Ozai said. "And foolish."

One hand rose towards Aang who did not shy away. Even if that fire burned his flesh and bones he would move forward to protect his friends. His family. Everyone. A primal yell escaped him as he charged Ozai. The Fire Lord only shook his head.

"Foolish."

The fire never came. Aang was barely aware as Ozai's hand closed around his wrist. He did not feel the blow so much as the air leaving his lungs when Ozai's elbow embedded itself in his solar plexus. Aang's entire body felt as though it had been hit by a lightning bolt. It was as though an electric shock passed through his system and left him barely standing, numb to almost everything.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

A muffled sound reached him. He could not tell if it was an internal or external source, but his falling eyelids twitched in reaction. His eyes turned slightly to his left to see a series of colorful blurs spinning back and forth. His focus then gathered on a small green blur and the muffled sound came again.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

"Aang!" Toph screamed. Something was definitely wrong. His heartbeat was so much faster just a second ago. It should not have been affected that much by that hit, should it? "Aang, move!"

A blunt force pushed against Aang's chest. His mind told him that it was Ozai's kick, but it did not feel right after that initial hit.

Thump-thump.

Whatever it was though was more than enough force to push him back. Aang felt his feet lift off of the ground as his body moved through the air. There was a sudden impact against his shoulders, back, and then the back of his head. Everything started going black after that.

Thump-thump. Thump . . . thump.

He had to get up. He was not even sure if he was down, but he had to get up. He had to keep fighting. He had to stop Ozai before he could do anymore harm.

Thump-

"Aang?" Toph said in a hoarse whisper. Cheers drowned out her voice. She could feel him laying over there on the floor, but his heartbeat was no longer reaching her.

"Aang!" screamed louder. "Aang!"

Toph's focus shifted as she felt the sting of anger and tears in her eyes. All that existed in the world now was her and Ozai.

"I'll kill you!"

Toph charged Ozai with a tenacious fury that blocked out all other emotions. She did not feel it when Zhao stepped forward to stop her or when Zuko tackled him out of her way. She sensed neither Rou's attempt to bar her path nor Ty Lee and Mai when they intercepted him. It was not until someone grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her back that anything else came into the scope of her senses again.

"Blind rage later, thinking time now!" Sokka ordered her as she felt something large and heavy strike where Sokka pulled her away from.

Suki was by their sides in moments as the figure rose from where he had struck and looked down on the three smaller individuals. A wall of muscle now stood between her and Ozai, and she had every intention of punching her way through it.

A/N: I apologize for the lateness. My sister-in-law and three year old niece have moved in during my wife's deployment and it is taking some getting used to. Next chapter: Ty Lee and Mai vs Rou.