Hey guys sorry about the wait. Life happened to me, anyway I'm pleased with how this chapter turned out, though I wish I could've finished it sooner but like I said life happens. Anyway let me know what you think, I hope you enjoy.

I own only my OCs

Please leave a review, because I love to hear from you guys.

Ch. 28 The Prince of Destiny

-4 hours before the comet arrives

Aang, Zuko, and Zane stood on the bridge of the Fire of the Skies with tense anticipation as they waited for the first signs of Ozai's airship fleet. The crew was also in a rapt silence since the lives of some of their family members hanged in the balance of this final fight.

"There's something that's been bugging me since Sakura Island" Zuko said breaking the silence.

"What would that be?" Aang asked.

"Why is my fa…, why is Ozai starting the destruction of the eastern half of the Fire Nation from the north and working his way south instead of taking them both out at the same time?" Zuko asked curiously.

"According to the information Lo and Li brought us from their years in the palace, Ozai had made this choice the day he got back from that fight when Azula turned on him and you gave him that little beauty mark" Zane began "if you ask me after all those years of everything going his way, Ozai's screwed up mind couldn't handle being tossed aside by both of his own children."

"You're talking about the man who banished me for talking out of turn" Zuko stated dryly "I doubt we met much to him to begin with."

"True but you're missing a key detail" Zane replied.

"Which would be?" Zuko asked.

"Ozai chose to banish you when you were my age" Aang replied "on the day of the Eclipse and the day we left the Western Air Temple, you and Azula chose to abandon him against his own wishes."

"Very good" Zane said earnestly impressed "you're a lot sharper than when we met."

"Yeah the thought of what you might be plotting prompted that" Aang said.

"You're welcome" Zane replied.

"Anyway, this war is going to end here" Zuko said before they lost track of what was important "can I get one last recap on the plan?"

"Certainly" Zane answered "as you already know lady Ursa handed general command of this mission to me so I'll be monitoring the battle and sending out orders as the situation changes via messenger hawk, your mother has handed over our Fire Nation troops to you to lead against Ozai's Air Ships, Iroh has taken command of the Earth Kingdom forces to fortify they islands against the upcoming attack, Kimiko has taken command of the Water Tribe forces to provide assistance from the sea, and my mother will be assisting you along with the Air Nomads in the sky."

"How's she going to do that again?" Aang asked.

"The Air nomads are lending her a sky bison" Zane answered.

"Oh, what about me then?" Aang replied.

"You're essentially free to do as you please" Zane stated simply "right now the biggest bet on our side is who will defeat Ozai, you or Zuko."

"I see" Aang stated as he noted a look of intense hatred in Zuko's eyes.

"Master Zane" the captain shouted catching their attention "they're here."

The boys looked out the front window and saw over two dozen airships heading their way; lead by a single, decked out in gold and black, ship.

"Your dad has horrible tastes Zuko" Zane stated calmly before walking over to the ship's communication system and shouting "enemy cited everyone prepare for combat, I want every last dragon, bison, Air Nomad, war balloon, and whatever the hell else we have airborne immediately!!!"

"It's finally time" Zuko stated "come on Aang we have a war to end" he then gave a concerned glance towards Zane.

Zane sighed lightly before saying "don't worry; Katara's helping out with the medical team, just like Raine."

"But still" Zuko said.

"Didn't I tell you not to worry" Zane began "even if I have to go out there myself, this ship and its crew will make it through, you just have to worry about settling things with your own past for now."

"Thank you" Zuko said before he and Aang headed towards the hanger.

-3 hours before the comet arrives

Katara looked around the hanger to see the nervous faces of many Air Nomads and Fire Nation natives. She saw Kana climb into a saddle on top of a sky bison as she fastened some goggles around her head. Azula was doing the same as she prepared to mount a blue dragon. Suddenly she saw Zuko and Zane make their way into the hanger.

"Zuko" Katara said as she ran up to him and hugged him.

"Hey" Zuko said with a weak smile "you ready?"

"As, I'll ever be" Katara said as she let him go "be careful."

"Trust me, I will" Zuko said "but this is still something I have to do."

"Have to or want to?" Katara asked.

Zuko sighed before he said "it's both, I suppose."

Katara chuckled before saying "you're hopeless, you know that?"

"I guess you're right" Zuko said before he kissed her, when he broke he said "but I do promise that I'll come back".

"You better" Katara threatened lightly as Zuko walked towards Fang.

Zuko then turned to the eyes of the Fire Nation members of the White Lotus who were now under his command, he cleared his throat before saying "everyone I wish to thank you for your help and trust, I know over the last hundred year my family hasn't acted in the best interest of the people of our great nation" many of the soldiers seemed to be thinking along the lines of 'and how', "and I know this sounds selfish of me but please lend me your strength so we can take back our country and the future of the world, so that we can make it a future of peace."

The soldiers looked at one another with a slight grin before they shrugged their shoulders and said "yes your majesty."

"Thank you" Zuko said before he mounted Fang and whispered "I'm coming for you Ozai."

Soon the skies were filled dragons, flying bison, war balloons, and Air Nomads. Both sides clashed signaling the beginning of the battle to decide the fate of the world.

Zuko flew towards the flagship but couldn't get through due to several dozen war balloons.

"Damn it" Zuko swore softly, before he jumped off of Fang's back and landed in one of their balloon baskets.

"What the hell?!" the two soldiers swore in terror before Zuko struck them both in the neck, knocking them out. Zuko then conjured some blue flames around his foot before he kicked the furnace, melting the machinery inside and sending the balloon into a slow descent towards the ocean. Zuko then jumped out of the basket and onto Fang's back and repeated the process on five more.

When Zuko jumped back on Fang's back after the last balloon he sighed "ok six down" he then looked towards the Fire Nation's flagship to see countless balloons standing between him and his goal "hundreds more to go."

Suddenly countless ice-sickles shot up from below taking out nearly half of the balloons obstructing Zuko's path, he watched in shock as fragments of metal and many dead bodies fell towards the ocean below.

"You really shouldn't rush yourself" a woman's voice called out before dozens of airbenders and firebenders on dragons rushed forward and attacked the balloons.

Zuko turned to see Kana riding her bison as she pulled up to him "I appreciate the help" Zuko said before he waved his hand bringing up a small wall of fire blocking two fireballs aimed for his chest.

"Don't mention it" Kana stated as she shot two ice-sickles from her hand killing the two operators of another balloon "Zane said you might try to get ahead of yourself" Zuko cursed himself mentally before shooting two small fireballs towards the conductors of yet another balloon knocking them out "I have such smart children."

"Where did those ice-sickles from earlier come from?" Zuko asked.

"From below" Aang shouted as he poked a hole in several balloons with his staff.

Zuko looked down to see a number of what appeared to be Fire Nation and Water Tribe ships dotting the sea below them and sure enough he could see ice shooting towards the sky in various directions.

"Don't try to do it all on your own" Azula shouted as she flew in on her dragon and took out a couple of conductors like her brother had done and jumped back on board "even you aren't strong enough to handle them all on your own."

Zuko sighed before saying "thank you guys."

Kimiko was standing on the deck of their leading boat watching the many Ice sickles and flaming projectiles fly every which way, before sighing nervously.

"What's the matter?" Pakku asked as he took a break from attacking "we're lucky that it's a full moon tonight, otherwise we'd never reach them."

"I'm grateful for the full moon grandpa, it's just that the skies have me concerned" Kimiko replied.

"Grandpa, well I guess I don't deserve any formalities" Pakku thought. "Why are you concerned?" Pakku asked.

"If it's this late, then the skies should be dark by now, but there not" Kimiko stated.

Pakku looked out to the skies and sure enough the skies were clear of any stars and the sky appeared to be turning a light shade of red "the comet, is causing this isn't it?" he asked.

"It is, I know, I can feel it" Kimiko stated.

"Feel it?" Pakku responded.

"I'm half firebender you know, so that's probably why I can feel it coming" Kimiko stated before she waved her wrist causing forming ice-sickles to form on fingers. Pakku's eyebrow rose a couple of inches before Kimiko before she pushed him to the side and shot the ice-sickles from her hand. Pakku watched as the ice-sickles shot through the air towards a war balloon about 30 yards in the air behind him, he then saw two people fly out of the basket and crash into the sea with a trail of blood following.

"Damn, she's something" Pakku thought as he saw a tear leave fall from her left eye "are you alright?"

"Let's just say, that if I never have to kill again after today I'm going to be a happy woman" Kimiko said solemnly as she helped her grandfather up.

"I'm sorry" Pakku said with a tone of shame.

"Don't be" Kimiko stated as she created more ice-sickles on both her hands "but until then we better stay alive" she then started firing ice-sickles into the air again.

"Damn, I'm pathetic" Pakku cursed silently before he did the same as his granddaughter and rejoined the fight.

In the skies above all hell had essentially broken loose. Dragons, Sky Bison, and Airbenders had engaged the Fire Nation's war balloons. Countless people on both sides had fallen and Zuko was starting to feel impatient again.

"Damn" Zuko swore as he looked up to the flag ship's observation deck and he could swear that he saw his father grinning like a mad man.

"Zuko, we're running out of time!!!" Azula shouted after disabling another war balloon sending it into a slow descent and jumped back onto her dragon.

"I know, but every time I try to get to the observation deck!!!" Zuko shouted as he and Fang made another attempt only to be intercepted once again "this happens!!!"

"What about your white fire?" Aang asked as he used his staff to poke a hole in yet another balloon.

"Takes up too much energy" Zuko replied "I'll need my energy to take on Ozai."

"So what do we do?" Aang asked as he watched another two soldiers pierced through the heart by Kana's ice-sickles.

"You use a back door" Kana shouted.

"Back door?" Azula asked "what back door!?"

Kana smirked slightly before saying "and if there isn't a back door you make one yourself, Zuko I take it that much white fire won't take up too much energy right?"

"Yeah I could blow a hole through the metal and work my way up" Zuko stated wondering why he hadn't thought of it earlier.

"Still it can't be a good idea for you to go in alone" Azula shouted as she disabled another two balloons.

"Agreed" Kana stated as she killed another four men from their balloon baskets "Aang, Azula go with him!!!"

"We're on it" Aang said as he, Azula, and Zuko.

Zuko eyed the entire ship when he noticed an a spot near the rear that had only a couple of war balloons guarding it "Found our entrance, cover me."

"Got it" Azula and Aang shouted as they each disabled another balloon.

Zuko leapt off of Fang's back in between the two balloons. Flames came towards him from both sides; Zuko punched both hands out to his sides sending an arc of blue flames towards each balloon. The Flames from both the balloons were dissipated by Zuko's attack, the crews quickly brought up a small wall of fire to block Zuko's attacks, but the arcs exploded on contact and knocked them out and destroyed their furnaces. Zuko then closed his eyes for a moment as he took a deep breath, he then focused his energy into his feet causing snow white flames to form around his feet, finally Zuko brought his knee caps up to his chest before exhaling and kicking his feet towards the ship sending a massive white fireball towards the flag ship blowing a twenty foot hole in the hull before Zuko landed back on Fang's back.

"And now we have a back door" Aang stated.

"Yeah…you could definitely say that" Azula added as she jumped back on her dragon's back.

"Stay focused, they're bound to have plenty of guards on the inside, this is our father's ship after all" Zuko warned cautiously as he and Fang led Azula and Aang toward their new entrance.

-One hour before the comet arrives

Zuko, Azula, and Aang made their way down the hall that they had just entered. Fang and Azula's dragons went back to the Fire of the Skies to rest up and gain some new riders.

"Hey what the hell do you three think you're doing?" a male voice called from down the hall while he was followed by several other soldiers.

"Damn it" Zuko spat as he was about to charge them, however he was stopped by his sister's hand pulling up in front of him.

"Leave this to me" Azula said with a grin on her face as she walked quietly towards them without even taking a firebending stance, Zuko and Aang couldn't help but notice that the soldiers seemed to start cowering in fear as she made her way towards them "now, surely you Dai Li agents wouldn't even consider attacking me" Zuko and Aang's eyes nearly popped out of their heads as Azula started to flex her wrist lazily "after all I am the most ruthless killer in all the Fire Nation, and I've been training under the most famous killer in the Fire Nation for months; so tell me…do you really want to cross me?"

The soldiers looked at each other clearly terrified before they nodded and kneeled to the floor and said "we are yours to command princess Azula."

"Very good" Azula said "now I want to know how to get to the bridge and the observation deck now!!!"

"Right away princess" one of the agents said as he pulled a scroll out of his uniform and showed it to Azula.

Several minutes later Azula seemed satisfied and said "very well, I want you guys to get off this ship immediately and take as many people with you as you can."

"Yes Ma'am" they saluted before running off.

"How'd you know that they were Dai Li?" Aang asked.

"They had that weak minded expression in their eyes" Azula stated lightly "that and the fact that you don't see many firebenders who wear gloves made out of rock."

"So do you think they gave us accurate information?" Zuko asked.

"Zuko, give me some credit" Azula stated bluntly "I know how to lie and I know how to tell when others are lying."

"So where are we going?" Aang asked.

"We need to keep making our way down this hall and take a couple of turns, after that we're going to have to split ways in order to get to the bridge and the observation deck" Azula stated as she began to walk down the hall "given our time constraints, we should split into two groups; Zuko I know will want to take dad on, so I'll head to the bridge, and I guess Aang…" Azula began.

"I'll help you with the bridge" Aang added happily "I'm sure Zuko can handle Ozai on his own."

"Thanks" Azula said with a slight blush.

"Hey love birds we have work to do" Zuko stated bluntly.

"Right we need to find the bridge and observation deck" Azula stated as she led Zuko and Aang down the halls.

The three made their way down the corridor unfortunately it wasn't deserted.

"How much further?" Zuko asked as he performed a roundhouse kick sending another arc of blue fire, knocking out three more guards.

"We the fork in the walk way is behind the last of these guys" Azula stated as she blocked two fireballs with her hands before throwing two of her own knocking out another two "problem is we only have about another fifteen people or so to go through" she then performed a front flip and kicked sending another two fireballs, hitting two guards so hard it shot them back knocking out several of their friends "and last I checked we don't want to kill anyone."

"Let me handle this" Aang stated as he swung his staff from his side sending a large gust of air down the entire hall slamming the guards into either the metal walls or each other, either way they were left unconscious.

"Nice" Azula stated as she walked past a small window when they heard a series of loud explosions.

"Now what?" Zuko asked.

"Zuko, you better have a look at this" Azula stated with concern.

Zuko looked out the window and saw that several of the Airships behind them were on a crash course with the sea while several smaller explosions came from the inside, shredding their hulls in seconds.

"How could something that big go down so fast?" Aang asked.

"Remember those explosive charges Zane and Kimiko used to blow up the Boiling Rock?" Zuko asked.

"Oh…" Aang said with concern.

"From what Teo and the Machinist told me, it would only take two or three of them on the engines of these ships to take them out" Zuko stated.

"Wait a minute, what about this ship?" Aang asked with a frightened voice.

"Knowing Zane if we don't capture and redirected it in time he'll do something crazy and blow this ship up himself" Azula stated.

"Meaning that we need to go, NOW!!!" Zuko stated as he ran towards the fork in the walkway "left way to the observation deck right?"

"That's right" Azula shouted as she headed towards the right path "come on Aang."

"You're all out of your freaking mind" Aang whispered before he ran after Azula "but there is absolutely no way I'm going to let myself get killed by Zane!!!" he screamed in his mind as he followed Azula down the right walkway and Zuko took the left.

Zuko raced up several fleet of stairs before he came to a short walkway with a large metallic door at the end. Zuko made his way to the door and tried to open it, sure enough it was locked tight. "Yeah you're definitely behind this door" Zuko said as he took several steps back before he took out a small vile of ink "she's too good for me" Zuko said lightly to himself.

Flashback

"Zuko I want you take this" Katara said as she handed him the vile.

"Why?" Zuko asked as he put in his pocket "it's not like I'm going to be happy just writing my dad an angry letter."

"It's if you want to use Combustion Man's technique, I'd really prefer you use ink as opposed to your own blood as a focal point" Katara stated dryly.

"Oh yeah" Zuko stated simply "It'd be nice not to have to get hurt or cut myself to use that move."

"Seriously though" Katara stated "even Zane and Kimiko thought that using your own blood for a technique was unorthodox."

"Okay, I get the picture" Zuko sighed "no more using my own blood for a focal technique."

End Flashback

Zuko placed a dot of black ink on his forehead before he breathed calmly and deeply, he could feel the power flowing through him before he turned his focus to the door a couple dozen feet down the hall, he felt the energy focusing in his forehead before he exhaled sending the door flying inside the observation deck. Just before the smoke cleared from the doorway a bright light shot through it towards Zuko. Zuko caught the lightning with his hands before redirecting the lighting behind him exploding when it struck the wall at the opposite end of the hall. Zuko then focused his chi into his feet as he flashed through the smoke and surrounded his right fist in blue fire as he jabbed forward. Zuko felt the fire in his right hand extinguish as someone's hand grasped around his right arm. Zuko instinctively reached out to the side with his left and grasped a flaming hook aimed for his face as he grasped his right hand on his target's arm.

The smoke cleared and Zuko found himself face to face with the source of his anger.

"I'll admit you've improved significantly" Ozai stated as he lifted his face revealing a horrible burn scar on the right side of his face.

"What can I say?" Zuko asked "killing me now is a lot harder than burning the face of thirteen year old boy who isn't even trying to fight back!"

"Still insolent as ever" Ozai replied as he saw Zuko's left leg come towards him surrounded in fire, Ozai tried to block it with what little protection he could create with his right leg, however when Zuko's kick connected it caused an explosion so powerful that it forced the two to fall back over a dozen feet.

Zuko took the opportunity to familiarize himself with his surroundings; the observation room was about thirty feet by twenty feet, the front of the room facing the outside was covered with some incredibly thick glass where he could see the battle going on outside and he saw an airship belonging to the lotus explode as it fell to the ground.

"Someone who's trying to use Soizen's comet on his own country has no right to talk about honor and respect!!!" Zuko shouted angrily as he sent three fireballs towards Ozai.

Ozai blocked the fireballs and performed a roundhouse kick, sending an arc of blue fire towards Zuko. Zuko placed his hands towards the center of the attack, before swaying them both to his sides causing the attack to dissipate.

"That's the price for treason; if you had any real sense of leadership you'd understand that" Ozai said venomously.

"You still don't get it, do you?" Zuko asked as he punched his right arm forward sending a massive stream of flames towards Ozai. Ozai held his arms up in a cross position before swaying them both to his side, causing the stream to part to his sides.

"Oh really, and what would that be?" Ozai asked sarcastically.

"The people of the Fire Nation don't owe you any loyalty, as the Fire Lord you owe your loyalty to the people of the Fire Nation" Zuko shouted "that makes you the traitor to the Fire Nation; not me, not Azula, not mother, and not the members of the White Lotus".

Suddenly Ozai shot another bolt of lighting towards Zuko. Zuko caught the lighting and redirect it to his side before kicking a fireball towards Ozai with his left foot. The fireball caught Ozai in the chest and forced him back a couple of feet.

"By the way, your petty manipulations won't work on my anymore" Zuko stated coldly as he engulfed his hands in white fire.

"What is that?" Ozai asked, fear evident at what his son had created.

"Your demise" Zuko stated just as coldly.

Zuko punched his right arm forward and then followed it up with a left roundhouse, sending a white fireball and an arc of white fire towards Ozai. Ozai raised his hands above his head brining up a wall of blue fire. When Zuko's fireball made contact with Ozai's shield, it exploded, the force of the explosion threw Ozai against the metal wall behind him. Ozai then motioned both his hands to his side creating a stream of blue fire forcing him out of the way just before the arc of white fire tore a hole in wall behind him. Ozai immediately regained his stance and faced Zuko, however Zuko was nowhere to be seen, suddenly Zuko appeared in front of Ozai.

"Not this again!!!" Ozai swore in his mind as Zuko pushed forward with both of his hands engulfed in white fire. Ozai crossed his arms over his chest brining up another shield of blue fire, when Zuko's attack connected with his father's shield the explosion was so strong that it forced Zuko back to the observation windows and practically threw Ozai back to the entrance, "one direct hit with that and I'm dead!!!"

"I need to finish this fight, if I keep using the white fire like this I'll be out of energy" Zuko thought to himself as he took his stance prepared to deliver the killing blow "it's over, Ozai."

Ozai smirked before he said "that's what you think."

Aang and Azula finally made it to the door to the bridge. Azula reached into her outfit and pulled out a couple of explosive charges.

"Wait a minute are those the same as the ones that Zane's people are using?" Aang asked nervously.

"Relax" Azula stated calmly as she placed them on the hinges "this is just a door, so there won't be any sort of chain reaction like on the other ships" suddenly they heard another ship explode outside "in other words it won't be anything like that."

"I hope you're right" Aang stated as they took their steps back.

Azula gave him a kiss before saying "don't worry; I'm very good at this sort of thing."

Azula flicked two small blue fireballs towards the charges. They exploded on contact causing the door to explode into the bridge; Aang quickly followed and slammed all the crew members into the walls with an airblast coming from all directions.

"What did I tell you?" Azula asked sarcastically as she made her way steering wheel "it was so easy an infant could've done it."

"It was a good plan" Aang admitted as he felt the ship change directions.

"There that should be enough to keep Zane from blowing this ship to kingdom come" Azula stated as she picked up a couple of the unconscious crewmen and dragged them out to the hall "now could you help me with this please?"

"Sure" Aang stated as he helped move the crew out to the hall. When they were done Aang held the broken door where it had been before Azula had blown it off its hinges, "okay do your thing Azula."

Azula held out her right index and middle fingers, she then focused her chi and her breathing causing a small and very focused blue flame to appear. She then struck the flame on the bottom corner of the door, moments later bright sparks began to spit out as the door melded to doorway, she eventually melded the whole door back in place.

Azula wiped some sweat off her forehead before she said "okay Aang, your turn."

Aang held out his right arm and rotated his wrist pulling water out of the air around him and splashed it on the edge, creating a large amount of steam and a loud hissing sound. When the steamed disappeared Aang gave the door a good kick and it didn't budge.

"Okay that should keep anyone from redirecting this ship anytime soon" Aang stated "now let's get out of here before the rest of the crew shoes up."

"Agreed" Azula stated as they headed towards the hole Zuko had made for them.

Ozai shook as the ship turned sharply to the east beneath him. "What the hell is going on here?" he swore.

"Isn't it obvious?" Zuko asked coldly "you've lost this fight, this battle, and this war."

Ozai smirked as he focused blue fire into his right hand as he lunged his right arm forward, sending a small fireball towards Zuko's side.

"What's he doing?" Zuko thought "Is he going to use a follow up, better just dodge just in case."

Zuko stepped to the side to avoid the fireball and kept his eyes on Ozai, Ozai wasn't moving to follow up his attack, he was only smiling as he said "you need to be aware of your surroundings, not knowing could kill you."

"What?!" Zuko thought as he turned his head back in horror to see the attack he just dodged as it headed towards the window.

When the fireball struck the window several cracks formed and quickly spread, until the window shattered. The force of the air suction took Zuko by surprise and threw him out of observation room.

Azula and Aang landed on top of The Fire of the Skies. Riku ran up to them followed by Katara and Raine as other injured soldiers were dragged inside by other healers and medics.

"Are you three okay?" Riku shouted as he examined their injuries before having Katara and Raine treat them.

"We're fine" Azula stated as she felt Katara's bending treating her burns.

"Yeah we got the ship turned around and sealed the bridge, no one is getting in there" Aang said proudly.

Outside the flagship's bridge the crewmen were starting to regain consciousness.

"What happened to us?" one of the soldiers asked.

"We all suddenly got hit by this powerful gust of wind; next thing I know, we're waking up outside the bridge and the door has been melded shut" another stated.

"Hey guys, where's General Shino?" a third one asked.

Inside the bridge a figure was stirring from behind one of his subordinates' stations. He placed his palm up to his forehead.

"What the hell just happened to me?" Shino asked. Suddenly he remembered the door blasting into the bridge and then seeing the Avatar rush in and before creating a sphere of air which slammed him into the ceiling and dropped him outside behind the navigator's station. He saw that he was the only one on the bridge, he also noticed that the compass told him that he was heading east instead of south.

"Damn it!!!" Shino swore as he made his way to the speaker for the entire ship and shouting "I want all hands in position, I'm about to put this ship back on track" he shouted before he shook his head and made his way to the wheel.

"So where is Zuko?" Katara asked as she finished healing Azula.

"Finishing things with our dad" Azula said as she stood up.

"Will he be okay?" Katara asked.

"I wouldn't worry too much" Raine said as she finished healing Aang.

"How can you be so sure?" Katara asked.

"Because I've been hanging out with Zane a lot since we left the Southern Water Tribe and there is one thing I've noticed that the two have in common" Raine replied.

"Which would be?" Katara asked.

"There's likely no one alive today that has what it takes to kill them" Raine answered.

Katara's eyes shot open before she looked to the skies and said "yeah your right."

Zuko could feel the air rushing past him as he fell from the observation deck.

"Is this the end?" Zuko thought to himself with his eyes closed "am I really going to let down my friends, my family, my nation, and the world when they need me the most?!"

"The hell with that!!!" Zuko swore as he breathed through his mouth and several blue flames licked his face. Zuko then opened his eyes before kicking both his feet towards the ground, generating a large blue fire, Zuko's descent slowed down significantly until he was eventually flying. Zuko sighed before saying "let me guess", he then looked above him to see a what appeared to be a bright light racing across the sky, he then looked around and noticed that many fireballs the size of balloons or boats; there was no doubt Soizen's comet had arrived, which meant they were running out of time.

Ozai could feel the power coursing through his veins "it's time to end this" he said with a smirk.

"Yeah it is" a voice said from outside.

Ozai turned to see his son was literally flying outside the observation deck with large blue flames shooting from his feet. Zuko raised his right fist as high as he could before punching forward at a downward angle sending a large stream of blue fire towards Ozai. Ozai slammed his hands together to part the flames as they raced towards him. He then leapt towards Zuko followed by flames of his own, Ozai concentrated his chi into his right hand as Zuko did the same. The two attacks connected causing a huge explosion forcing the father and son apart as the flagship continued on its course without them. Zuko and Ozai eyed each other with an intense hatred.

"Why?" Ozai asked "tell me why you keep coming at me again and again, why do you fight against your own father, against your own country, and why do you keep getting back up and why do you keep fighting."

"I doubt you could understand" Zuko hissed as he got back into stance.

"Is it for some sense of 'justice', is it for some personal view of 'honor', or is it for something like 'love'?" Ozai asked.

Zuko gave a grim laugh before saying "Ozai 'none' of those terms mean anything to you; all you've ever cared about was your own damn self, your no different from your father; if anything your even more monstrous and despicable than he ever was" Zuko then surrounded his right hand in blue flames before saying "over the course of my life I've slipped up several times; believing in you after Azulon died and mother disappeared, wanting to believe in you when I chose not to fight and then was subsequently burned and banished by you, terrorizing innocent people to hunt the Avatar, and choosing your pathetic 'fatherhood' over Uncle Iroh" Zuko then punched forward sending another large stream of blue flames towards Ozai "but never again!!!" he shouted.

Back on the sky deck of The Fire of the Skies Riku, Katara, Raine, Aang, and Azula saw the large blue flames that kept flashing in the sky.

"They're really going at it, aren't they?" Kana asked as she landed her bison.

"Mrs. Kana" Raine said in concern when she saw Kana covered in burns and ran to treat her.

"Relax Raine, we got all the airships, except for the flagship" Kana stated.

Back in the skies Ozai smirked evilly when he said "it looks like I'm still in the game."

Zuko looked down in terror as he saw the flagship turning back towards the south.

"It's too late Zuko" Ozai said diabolically "the east will burn!!!"

"No it won't" Zuko said calmly "we won't allow it!!!"

"How?" Azula and Aang asked.

"My guess is that you missed one of the crewmen with your little bridge stunt" a voice called out from the entrance to the ship.

"Zane, what do we do?" Raine asked as she saw humongous flames literally shoot out from the ship.

"Well, I'm afraid there isn't enough time to get some charges on the engines like we did the other ships" Zane stated before he sighed and blue flames licked his face "but don't worry, I'll stop them."

"What are you going to do?" everyone asked.

"I'm going to become a murder in the sky" Zane said simply as he pulled some goggles out of his robes "in short, everyone on board that ship is about to die."

"Zane are you going to do something dangerous?" Raine asked even though she knew the answer and everyone else knew that she knew.

"Relax Raine" Zane said weakly as he walked up to Raine and kissed her on the lips, when he separated he said "I'll be right back, I'm almost impossible to kill, as you know very well."

Zane then broke off in a mad dash before he leapt into the air and took flight just like Zuko and Ozai had done earlier, he then took flight towards the flagship.

"You better come back" Raine said weakly as Katara placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"What the hell?" Ozai asked Zane made his way up to them.

"Hey guys, how's your squabble going?" Zane asked.

"Zane what are you doing here?" Zuko asked.

"Oh I'm about to use the comet's power to destroy the flagship and I just wanted to make sure you weren't about to die" Zane stated.

"Then get to it, I'm about to wrap things up on my end" Zuko seemingly ordered.

Zane smiled before saying "understood Fire Lord Zuko" and flying towards the flagship.

Zane made his way towards the middle of the flagship while killing over a dozen people who had the poor judgment to get in his way.

"Alright according to the specs the engine should be right about here" Zane said before he slamed the side of the ship with the back of his left hand leaving a large mark.

Zane smiled before he kicked off the ship, he then held up his left hand and focused a large amount of energy into a small sphere which was suddenly engulfed in flames. Zane threw it towards the ship blowing a hole over a hundred feet wide in the side of the ship exposing the large engine.

"I never imagined that I'd ever use my technique for something like this" Zane said as he formed a Sphere of Damnation in his right hand before he punched his right hand forward sending the orb into the engine setting off a chain of explosions, destroying the ship and most likely killing anyone on board.

"No!!!" Ozai shouted angrily.

"Told you" Zuko said as he used Ozai's distraction to get close to him.

"Damn" Ozai cursed as he tried to protect himself.

"You lose!" Zuko shouted as he engulfed his right arm in white fire.

Zuko performed a right uppercut hoping to incinerate Ozai on the spot. Ozai put all his energy into forcing himself away from the attack, as a result there was no direct contact between Ozai's body and Zuko's attack. However the heat from the white fire combined with the power boost from the comet made it so powerful that the heat alone badly burned Ozai's chest. Ozai screamed out in pain as he fell after his flames went out. He eventually fell onto the deck of the Fire of the Skies.

"Well there's something you don't see everyday" Aang said calmly as Ozai got back on his face with pain and anger in his face.

"Even in our lives" Zane said as he landed on deck and got between his friends and the Fire lord and Zuko did the same.

"Why you" Ozai hissed as he punched forward but no flames appeared "what?" he said weakly before he kept punching and kicking towards the teens and Kana as they raised an eyebrow to him.

Zane shrugged to his friends before he walked up to the tyrant and decked him in the face knocking him out cold before asking "any ideas what happened to him?"

Raine ran over to Ozai and placed some water over Ozai's chest, while Katara started treating Zuko and Kana started treating Zane's wounds. "It would seem that Zuko badly damaged his chi network" Raine said calmly.

"Chi network?" Zuko asked.

"It's like a series of veins that distribute chi across the body, to put it simply because of what you've done he'll never firebend again, and thanks to Zane he now has a broken jaw" Raine answered.

"I see" Zuko stated.

"You want me to kill him" Zane offered "I mean I just killed over three thousand people so this really won't hurt to much."

Zuko closed his eyes in thought before saying "no, I've got something far worse in store for him."

"Really?" Zane asked "if your telling me the truth I'm very proud of you."

"In any case, I think there's one last thing we need to do today now that my father has been dealt with" Zuko stated as he looked towards the comet.

"Yeah, I'd have to agree" Zane sighed as he looked up to the comet "I mean it is a major cultural symbol for our people…but it's proven to be bad for the community; Riku, Azula would you care to help us?"

"Alright" Azula and Riku said as they focused on the comet.

The four young firebenders breathed heavily. Suddenly they were all glowing from the intense light pulsing around their bodies, they then launched four bolts of lightning each over a dozen times larger than normal, they seemed to merge midway and when they finally made contact with comet it exploded and burned up in the atmosphere.

"It's over" Katara breathed in relief as the skies turned back to normal.

"Not quite" Zuko said "we still have work to do, but we'll make it" he then kissed her.

"War, mass causalities, a near massacre, and a little love" Zane said lightly "I won't forget this day anytime soon."

"By the way is are deal still going?" Zuko asked.

"Of course" Zane said with a grin "just keep your end of the bargain."

"What are you talking about?" Katara asked.

"Long story" Zuko stated.

-one week later

"All hail Fire Lord Zuko" the multinational crowd shouted as Zuko was made officially named Fire Lord by the eldest Fire Sage with Ursa, Iroh, Azula, Zane, Kimiko, Kana, and Katara standing behind him.

"Thank you, everyone" Zuko said as he raised his hand "words can not express our debt to the countless heroes who protected this world over the century; but I am proud to say that after a hundred years of war and dark times, a new era of peace and love has begun" everyone listened with rapt attention "as the new Fire Lord its my duty to restore the honor of the Fire Nation and I swear that I will, though I know that I can't do it alone, with the help of the many heroes I have allied myself with we will restore our nation's dignity."

Everyone applauded the new Fire Lord knowing that while the future may be full of trials, they have new reasons to hope and believe.

"You two are under arrest!!!" A group of soldiers yelled from behind the new Fire Lord redirecting all attention to Zane and Kimiko who were having their hands tied behind their backs, while standing behind Zuko.

"Zuko, you remembered" Kimiko said happily.

"I told you he would sis" Zane said as if he was about to cry.

"Zuko what is going on here?" Katara asked as they were being led out.

"Katara remember that deal me and Zane talked about a week ago?" Zuko asked "this is my end of the bargain."

"They wanted you to allow them to be arrested?!" Katara asked.

"Well actually they wanted me to allow my father's highest court to try to make them pay for all the crimes they committed against his crown" Zuko began "they're basically a collection of my father and grandfather's oldest friends who act as judges for crimes committed against the Fire Nation."

"Did you say 'try'?" Katara asked and Zuko nodded "so from what you just told me a court full of old men are going to try to make Zane and Kimiko pay for their crimes?"

Zuko nodded. Everyone looked to the former dragons and noticed the twisted smiles they were both wearing. Naturally just about everyone there planed to be there for the trial.

28 chapters down, one more to go. Hard to believe I know but the next chapter is the last. Stay tuned to find out what Zuko has in mind for his dad, how the world changes now that Zuko's generation has taken charge of the Fire Nation and the world, and of course let's watch as a court of bitter old people TRY to make Zane and Kimiko pay for their crimes (how can that go wrong for them?). The next chapter will probably be pretty short but I think you'll like it. Until then have fun and leave a review. Also if you'd be so kind think about this fic so far as a whole, what did I do well, what were likely mistakes in the long run (nothing about pairings please, and I already know about the OC overload my next fic will only have three you need to know, so that's been addressed), did any scenes make you laugh, did any scenes make you cry, who made the best couple (this could be actual characters from the series or my OCs), who was my best OC, and what did you think of this fic as whole. Anyway please think about those until I get the last chapter up and take care.