A/N: Okay so welcome back everybody! This chapter will have a resolution to the Ozai problem and Azula's rescue. We will discover that sometimes all it takes is one decision to create a ripple effect that will change the course and story of many people's lives. I am glad to say there will be major character death in this chapter. Y'all already know who it is... I've been waiting to kill this bastard for a while now. I know that sounds really psychotic but Ozai is indeed the worst... So we'll have some action, a little, adventure, Some ninja and stealth work, Suki action, some mentions of violence and hopefully a little humor. There will be one more chapter with Zutara lovin', Mai and Ty Lee stuffs, a surprise, and an epilogue after this. I am so glad you are enjoying this story! I knew someone was going to be affected by Ang's demise but it was necessary for the story movement in my humble opinion. Of course, I always love to hear from you and I want to know what's going on in your brains when you read about the world from my brain. If you likey, favorite or follow! Special thanks to the Amazing Spectacular Spider-Man for all the follows and favorites of my stories that completely made my day and Yemoya for helping me to craft my writing with great thought and intention. I love our dialogue, logic challenges, and analysis of the A:TLA universe; you may just be the reason I finish my stories...
Disclaimer: Fanfiction is for surprise endings...
Chapter 21—The Final Confrontation (Part 3)
When Azula realized where she was being taken, she knew. She knew that this was to be her last journey. Her father was taking her home. Azula felt the irony more than she realized it and her eyes watered with tears that dared to be shed. She would go down as a footnote in history as the daughter of the crazed councilman who killed her because she was cursed to wield fire: A cautionary tale or a sensational headline to be studied in the annals of law schools and universities about benders' rights. She was about to become the poster child of child abuse. Azula found herself swallowing over and over in an attempt to both keep from drying out and screaming for all she was worth. Her head and body still ached from her previous injuries and she fought not to pass out in the car. Azula trembled sitting between the two gunmen that she had known from a little girl. These men now looked ahead emotionlessly neither acknowledging her status nor her relation. Neither man recognized her as Ozai's daughter anymore. She was now their prisoner. She understood then what it must have felt like for Mr. Jee to once be respected as an equal in their circle only to become an enemy in one moment. Azula prayed that Tophia and the others survived and were able to get help. Her hope of escaping this situation alive and unharmed was fading quickly.
The ride to the old Azulon manor was solemn. Sokka drove Uncle Iroh's car after he explained what they were going to do. Iroh understood that they had to go for it was destiny's call, but he said they had to make it look like they took the car without permission. "Really? Uncle, don't you think military school is punishment enough for me?" Sokka asked with a hint of sarcasm. Iroh shrugged. "It made sense in my head. If you go and rescue Azula on impulse your parents will be less likely to react badly. If you go as if you know what you are doing with premeditation, then you will have more resistance and punishments. Trust me. Advanced Parenting 302: Human nature." Iroh said sagely. Zuko and Katara exchanged a look. It felt like time was wasting. Zuko reached around his uncle and took Iroh's keys from his jacket pocket. He nodded with satisfaction. "There. I stole your keys while you weren't looking when I realized where Ozai was holding my sister and we ran out without thinking things through. I'm good at that. Let Korra and the police know so that we can get some backup." Zuko eyed his uncle suspiciously. "But only after 20 minutes. We need time to get there first without interference." He said with assurance. Iroh smirked. "Your Dao are in the trunk. Come back to me safely—All of you." He said quietly.
Zuko nodded again before turning away. He took a step and turned back suddenly embracing his uncle in a tight hug. He squeezed his uncle uncharacteristically tighter than usual. "I love you…" he whispered. Iroh closed his eyes tightly in the embrace. "As do I…" he rasped back. "Now go!" Iroh urged before he changed his mind and left things up to the police. The four teens hurried out of the hospital to the garage. They didn't want to leave anything else to chance and they didn't know how much time Azula had left. It was now or never. Iroh sat down heavily in a chair resisting the urge to cry for his adopted son and friend he'd come to know as family. Korra stepped up to Iroh in the waiting room placing her hand gently on his shoulder. "Address?" She asked quietly. Iroh chuckled softly. "3838 Phoenix Court," he replied. "You will give them some time, won't you?" Iroh asked concerned. "Of course, give or take 10 minutes," Korra answered coyly giving Iroh a smirk and said with admiration. "They really are brave children, aren't they?" Iroh's face grew serious. "The bravest…"
Ozai stalked around his daughter who was bound and sitting on a dusty old couch from a distant dream or what felt like a nightmare. This house had once held so many good memories for her and now they would be wiped out by her last memory tinged with the terror her current situation. Ozai continued to pace back and forth as if he was waiting for something or someone. He kept this pace for a full fifteen minutes. Azula wondered to herself if her father realized how crazy he looked to his men and to her with his incessant pacing. What if whoever he was waiting on never came? Secretly she hoped that he was waiting on Zuko. She overheard the men talking about how he was the Blue Spirit and though she was shocked that they knew, she really wasn't surprised. Her brother had been the source of several amazing revelations this year. She remembered the blue gifted mask she called gross on his birthday. Guilt ate at her for a moment when she remembered how she treated Zuko that night. But then Azula remembered their conversation at Tophia's house by video chat. Zuko reminded her that he always loved her and would protect her. Suddenly she knew. Yes, her brother was coming for her and her father had reason to be concerned.
Ozai smiled wickedly when he saw the headlights of a familiar car in the window. "Good. He's here. I get to finish the job I should have done the day you mutants were born." He spat disdainfully towards Azula. Azula said nothing but watched as Ozai signaled to his men to get in position. The doorbell rang. The crew looked at one another in confusion and Ozai signaled for one man to answer the door. He opened the door to a startled takeout delivery girl with bright red hair in a red BadgerLyft Eats cap. Her squeaky voice trembled at the sight of the men with guns. "I-I-I—have a delivery for, um, G-G-Goku?" Ozai eyed his number two darkly who wilted under the intense glare of his boss. Goku was a dead man. The girl's blue-green eyes widened with terror at the glimpse of another girl tied up on the couch. "Y-You know what? Uh, the delivery's on me. H-have a nice night!" She shouted her voice several octaves higher than normal. She left the food on the doorstep running frantically for her car and speeding out of the driveway before the men could react. The tires squealed as she pulled out and went the wrong way on the street barely missing another car that honked angrily. The man who answered the door took the bag of Fire Nation cuisine and handed it to Ozai. Ozai snatched the bag and threw it across the room. "I'm working with idiots..." he lamented. Suki took off the red hat as she pulled into an abandoned lot near the house but out of sight. Sokka, Katara, and Zuko sat up in the seats and let out the breaths they had been holding. Suki squeaked as she began and cleared her throat to speak normally.
"Azi's definitely in there. Ozai has her tied up on a couch in the living room. Every man was armed and in position. I feel like Ozai's waiting on you, Zuko. What's the plan?" Zuko looked at Suki and smirked raising an eyebrow. "He wants to kill the Blue Spirit. I think he'll have to work for that. We go stealth…" Suki looked up to the imaginary sky and gave a fist pump. She was born for this moment. "Yes!" was all she said. Sokka and Katara rolled their eyes at the two overly dramatic ninja warriors who were working out the details of subterfuge with looks, signals, and code words. Within minutes Zuko had his three friends mobilized and in position. Sokka was in place to shut off the house's main power long enough for Suki and Zuko to get in the house and disarm or dispatch as many of Ozai's thugs as possible. Katara was going to free Azula and get her out of the house immediately so she hid close to the front door. Sokka would rendezvous with Katara at the car if he didn't encounter any goons first. Suki would then continue to back Zuko up until he found Ozai and he would finish this. It was a ditch effort plan, but they hoped the element of surprise was on their side and that they could at least get Azula away. Before they all left the car, Zuko stopped his friends. "Guys, if things don't go well in there—" he began. Katara cut him off. "Yeah, we're not thinking like that. We're going to go in there and kick Ozai's and anyone else's ass who gets in our way. We will be successful: For Azula. For Ang. For Tophia. For all of Ba Sing Se." Zuko gave Katara a crooked smile. "For Ba Sing Se…" he said as he put his hand out.
Katara put her hand on his and Sokka and Suki put their hands down next. "Take no prisoners guys. They won't extend that courtesy to us." Sokka said seriously. Suki and Katara nodded in agreement and Zuko put on his old and familiar mask. Zuko had each of them synchronize their watches so that they could count down together. When Sokka got to the main power switch of the house, he waited until the clock struck midnight. The girls and Zuko waited in their hiding spots until the signal and counted down with him as the clock approached the agreed-upon time. "Ten…" Sokka began. "Nine..." Katara whispered just under the living room window. "Eight..." Suki counted near Sokka on the other side of the back porch. "Nana… Roku… Go… Yun… San… Ni…Ichi…" Zuko counted down and on the last count, the house went pitch black. The teens moved silently with lightning speed. Azula smiled in the dark. Some of the men gasped in surprise and Ozai sat up on high alert. "He's here. Watch your six." He said cautiously. One of the men had a flashlight and flicked it on. In a moment, the flashlight clattered to the floor and the man groaned as he thudded to the ground. Within a few more seconds, there was another grunt and silence. Ozai tried to look around him wildly in the dark but couldn't see or hear who was moving in the room. At the next noise, he took his gun and randomly began shooting where he heard any sound. More thuds and then silence. The lights suddenly turned on and Ozai saw where he shot some of his own men! Two had been stabbed in the throat by some sort of blade and Azula was gone! The only thing that remained were the ropes that once bound her.
Ozai howled. He called for his remaining men. "Find them you idiots! They can't be too far! We cannot let them get away!" He was practically screaming. "They are fucking kids for Agni's sake!" The men hurried outside running in all directions looking for the escaped prisoner and the Blue Spirit. Ozai stormed outside to the side of the house and saw a shadowy ominous figure under the streetlight near the alley. The menacing fanged smile and deep dark eye sockets unnerved him a little as the Blue Spirit stood before him an unearthly stillness over him. "You've come to meet your end, boy?" Ozai challenged. The Spirit didn't respond. He remained still as Ozai came closer. "If you think I have any intentions of sparing you think again," Ozai said simply and moved closer. The Blue Spirit removed his dual Dao from the holsters and stood in position. Ozai laughed—a cold sinister and heartless laugh. "Only you would come to a gunfight with swords. It doesn't matter; with or without weapons, you're still going to die." Ozai held out his guns and dropped them to the dirt below. He took off his jacket to fight his son. He put aside his weapons knowing his son would do the same. He was too honorable not to. Katara half ran with and half carried Azula to the car in the abandoned lot. Fortunately, they didn't see any goons chasing them. What worried them more was that they didn't see anyone. Sokka and Suki were nowhere in sight and Katara knew Zuko wasn't leaving without taking care of his father. Sokka and Suki managed to meet up in a side alley near the back of the house. They waited as a couple of goons ran by looking for them. If they didn't have to fight anyone they wouldn't, but if they did hopefully the men would have enough sense to see that it wouldn't be a good idea.
As the pair started to move out from their hiding space, they heard a shout and two screams. That was Katara and Azula! Sokka tore down the alleyway towards the car where he knew they would be to find Katara down on the ground and Azula missing. Katara was still and silent to Sokka's horror and he checked frantically to see if Katara had been injured in any way. "Kat? Katara, wake up sis. Please be OK. Please be OK." He whispered. Sokka sighed in relief when he didn't see any wounds or blood. Suki caught up only a few moments later to see Sokka cradling Katara in his arms. Suki's gold and metal gilded fan was open indicating that it had recently been used before she joined them. Katara stirred and moaned as she sat up. One of the goons managed to hit Katara over the head and incapacitate her long enough to take Azula from the car. "They got her!" She croaked out reaching up to touch the sore spot on the back of her head. "We can't let them take her to Ozai. He'll kill her!" she cried out. A fact they all knew too well. "Are you well enough to stand sis?" Sokka asked protectively. Katara nodded. "Yeah, I think so. Hand me my canteen; it got knocked out of my hand." She grumbled. In moments Katara took a bit of the water out of her container and gloved her hand in healing blue. She placed it on the back of her head and sighed in relief as the healing soaked in. Katara hooked her canteen back on her side with the cap off. She wasn't going to get caught off guard this time. The three teens ran in the direction of the house to stop a tragedy once again.
The level of skill his son possessed in martial arts amazed and impressed Ozai secretly. He didn't expect the boy to be able to deflect or block any of his hits. He didn't think Zuko worked out at all except for the requirements he had for physical education in school. Perhaps Zuko's isolation gave him time to focus on honing his fight skills. Ozai could barely touch him. What impressed him more was that when Zuko did get in a hit it was hard, bone breakingly heavy, and fast. Intentional. He would have kept the boy close to him if he knew he could match strength with him, but Zuko always came off as weak and weak-minded. He was getting tired of the game. In the corner of his eye, Ozai saw one of his men walk up with Azula in front of him resisting and struggling to break free. Ozai broke away from Zuko and grabbed his gun. Zuko froze. He didn't have time to grab his sword and he saw the goon dragging his sister up towards them. He wasn't sure what the next move was going to be. Ozai pointed his gun at Zuko and Zuko knew. Ozai was determined to end this, to end them. Zuko wasn't afraid anymore. He knew that if he died today, he had nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. He gave it his best effort. Zuko reached down to his chin and pulled off his mask dropping it to the ground. If his father was going to kill him, he had to look him in the eye and do it. Ozai raised an eyebrow. The boy wasn't afraid to die. Ozai knew then that killing Zuko wouldn't hurt him but quickly realized what would.
Ozai turned to Azula and fired hitting her squarely in the upper right side of her chest. Her eyes opened wide in shock as blood began to bloom like a perverse flower on the front of her gown. The thugs who grabbed her while she was in bed at the Bei Fong's never bothered to give her clothes to wear. The man who held her arm looked horrified at the daughter of his employer as she slid to the ground fighting for her life. He didn't think his boss really had the desire to kill his children. Azula gasped for breath as she felt her life force leaking out of the hole in her body and collapsed to the ground wheezing and choking on her own blood. Sokka, Suki, and Katara heard the shot and ran faster towards the house. Zuko had gone into a frenzy at the sight of his sister on the ground dying. He fought everyone who dared to approach him. The end result was devastating. Three of Ozai's men were on the ground around Azula in various stages of damage. The poor unlucky soul who was holding Azula at the time, didn't have a chance to blink before he was cut down in Zuko's rage. Ozai's eyes blew wide at the sight of his dead men at the hand of his son and Zuko approaching him with his bloody sword. Ozai completely forgot about the gun in his hand. He saw the fiery white heat of his son's wrath as the blade caught fire. Zuko no longer saw his father. He saw his target. Zuko was now the hunter and Ozai knew his life was his son's prey. He ran. Zuko ran off after his father determined to end this man who had the audacity and madness to take the life of his own child but wasn't brave enough to face the consequences.
Katara, Sokka, and Suki arrived in the aftermath of a bloodbath. Katara resisted the urge to vomit at the sight of the men on the ground with gaping and oozing wounds. She didn't see what happened, but she knew Zuko. This was a mercy. They weren't going to catch nearly the pain their boss Ozai was. She was pretty sure things were not going to end well for Ozai. He hurt one Zuko loved with prejudice. Zuko would reciprocate. Katara was at Azula's side in an instant ignoring the carnage around her. She pulled water from her canteen her hands already glowing with healing energy. She prayed to Tui that she wasn't too late like she was for Ang. She didn't know if she could bear the loss of another friend. "Azula, I'm going to see if I can remove the bullet. You have to fight. We can't lose you too…" Azula groaned grabbing Katara's hand that began moving the bullet. She gasped desperately. "I want you to tell Zuko…tell him that—" Katara placed a touch of the glowing water on Azula's forehead momentarily putting her to sleep so that she could get the bullet without hurting her. "Sorry, Azi. I'm not passing any more final messages this week. You have to live." She whispered.
Katara found the bullet in Azula was intact unlike it was in Mrs. Bei Fong's shoulder. She carefully worked the bullet through the wound using her bloodbending once again. Yugoda taught her the history of her skill both good and evil. It has since been refined and developed for medical purposes only. Katara knew that it could be used for taking over a person's body and controlling them to her will but even the little she did with Zuko caused her to feel guilt and she promised herself she would only use bloodbending for healing. The bullet popped out rolling down and falling to the ground next to Azula. Katara took both of her hands covered with water poured intense healing into the wound and damaged muscles around Azula's heart. The blue glow lit both Katara's and Azula's faces in an eerie and ethereal way. Katara's brow furrowed in concentration. Sokka and Suki stood nearby standing guard but gasped in amazement at Katara's healing ability. Suki had never seen her water healing before. Sokka's heart swelled with admiration and pride at his sister's ability which never ceased to amaze him. Suki clasped her hands together in hope. Ozai shot Azula in the chest but the bullet didn't pierce her heart. It tore the outer lining of her heart and the tissues nearby. Katara was careful to watch for any other damage to her heart or arteries and waited. She knew she didn't put Azula out for a long amount of time but when she would wake up was anyone's guess.
The distant sirens of ambulances and police vehicles echoed in the curiously strange and still night air. Korra closed her eyes as she rode with Hakoda and another officer to the old Azulon house. She prayed desperately for a miracle that she didn't allow these children to ride off to their deaths. She would never forgive herself if she could have prevented another senseless killing like Ang's, but she also knew those kids. Zuko was more than determined to go and would have found a way with or without his uncle's help. As the cars approached the address on Phoenix Court, Korra saw a body count and her heart dropped to her stomach. Sokka and Suki waved frantically as she approached and Korra got out of her car to ensure no trigger-happy officers shot first and asked questions later. She signaled for the paramedics to come and take Azula when she spied the blood on her gown. Katara still had her healing water on Azula but nodded to let Korra know Azula was alive. Korra breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the Gods..." she whispered. When the paramedics brought over a gurney, Katara got up and stepped back so that they could work. She told them what she did to help her and went to stand with her brother. Korra sighed again before beginning her rant. "I'm so glad you're alright! You guys had no business coming here like this on your own. What happened here?" Korra said looking at the desecrated bodies near them in horror. Before they could answer Hakoda ran up to Katara and Sokka pulling them into a bear hug. He noticed Suki too and grabbed her pulling her into the group hug. His voice was frantic. "Oh, Kids! What the hell were you thinking running after Ozai like that? You could have gotten yourselves killed… Wait, where's Zuko?" Hakoda asked though in his heart he already knew the answer. The kids all looked at each other warily eyes wide with concern and pointed in the direction of the field behind the house. Korra signaled to her tactical team to follow her. She took out her gun and led the way.
Zuko chased Ozai through the expansive abandoned property ducking under tree branches and avoiding obscured pits and dips in the ground. Ozai was trying to make his escape to one of his secret getaway cars. Zuko knew if Ozai reached the barn, he was as good as gone. He pulled out an angled white and blue metal boomerang from the back of his belt. Unbeknownst to the Kuvira's and his uncle Zuko would use Sokka's boomerang in target practice since Sokka couldn't keep it in military school. He loved the weight and feel of the metal in his hands and found that with the right stroke he could throw with acute accuracy. He once demonstrated to Hakoda one night whose eyes bucked at the demolished target. He gave Zuko a hardy clap on the shoulder and remarked proudly to Zuko's joy, "You might secretly be part Water Tribe, son." Zuko knew now that he was open to a new father and made no qualms about taking out his current one. With a quick and powerful throw, Zuko hit Ozai squarely in the shoulder ripping his shirt and giving him a deep laceration. Ozai fell to the ground grunting and groaning in pain not even sure of what hit him. Zuko drew only one of his swords. He had forgotten the other one in his haste to catch up to Ozai. He prepared to bring down his final stroke. Zuko would end this now.
Ozai saw the murderous intent in his son's eyes and he smiled. He had finally created a son he could be proud of in this age. "You filthy little liar!" Ozai cackled and laughed hysterically as he stood up slowly. Zuko's face was bent in cold and silent fury. Ozai was unfazed and grinned wider. "You were always pretending to be so weak, so scared of everything. All along all you ever wanted to do was kill me. To take my rightful place as the ruler of this world. Even the time you lucked out and became the Fire Lord you desperately wanted to be me while ranting about honor and peace." Ozai spat the blood out of his mouth from when he fell to the ground. Zuko eyed him cautiously. He sensed that someone else was emerging. The dawning realization hit him that this moment has happened before. He was once again locked in an age-old battle that came down to a choice. One that he was not so sure he could make differently without consequences. Ozai saw his chance.
"You were almost willing to kill your father once. Well, your chance has come around again. Do it." Ozai laughed knowing that the soft-hearted whelp as angry as he was still wouldn't kill him. Zuko took a deep breath knowing that his killing his father was not how it was going to end. Ozai would face justice this time. He wouldn't make this choice and ruin the hope of a brighter and better future for his new family. He shook his head and took a step back. "You're not worth it. You're going to jail and if all goes well the electric chair. I won't waste my energy taking your life. I'm sure there are several who will oblige." When Zuko turned his back to walk away, Ozai reached for his gun which had fallen on the ground. He shouted at his son's back "You're a fool Zuko! If you don't kill me, I will continue doing what I've always done. You and your friends haven't stopped anything. You miscalculated, boy. When you join your mother and your sister, make sure you tell them I said hello."
At that Zuko turned around to face him, but before Ozai could put his finger on the trigger, a sword pierced him through his chest and a tall figured pulled him close to feel the full effect of the blade and said, "No Ozai, you miscalculated." Ozai's eyes widened even as he felt his life waning at the voice of his driver, Andre. The one person he trusted out of all his men. Andre was quiet and did his job without complaining. He had his back in many a fight. Andre never once gave Ozai a reason to believe he would do this. "Why?" was all Ozai could rasp as Andre pushed the blade deeper. Zuko stood watching in shock at the turn of events. Was Andre the man who stopped him in his father's house that night? Andre took out a folded picture with ratty and torn edges. It was a photograph of a beautiful young woman with silky jet-black hair, large almond-shaped brown eyes slightly covered by her bangs and she wore a deep red lipstick. Andre held it to Ozai's face and the recognition of who she was registered. Andre gripped the picture in his hand with his voice shaking with rage. "This…this was my only reason for living in this world! My daughter meant everything to me, and you took her. You sent your dog Mo Zhou after her when she turned down your advances." Andre emphasized the next words jerking the blade in rhythm. "He tortured her." Ozai convulsed as the blood began to run down his mouth. Zuko tried not to vomit and desperately wanted to look away but was enraptured as he listened to the grim story.
Andre whispered, "She just wanted to go home that night." Andre twisted the sword a little to bring Ozai back to focus. He gasped and moaned in agony. Andre held up the picture again. "You didn't know who I was when you hired me, but I promised my girl June that I would make sure you never hurt anyone else like this again. I was too late to save your daughter, but not your son." Andre's voice darkened as Ozai's life faded. "May your spirit never rise from the ashes and may your name never grace this world again. May you never, ever find rest." Andre spat his curse as he pushed the blade through to the hilt cracking and splitting muscle and bone. Ozai grimaced silently and crumpled at his severed spinal cord and wounded heart. He collapsed to the ground never to rise again as Andre released him from the blade. Zuko watched as his father fell but the tears in his eyes were not for his father. He realized his sister was gone and that the torture she experienced was over. This nightmare was over. Seeing his father on the ground only gave him light consolation and a deep emotion he couldn't name. He knew there would be grief for his father at some point but not now. His mind was solely on his sister and losing her so cruelly. Zuko had just begun to be reunited with Azula and repair their broken relationship and now like a fading flower or blade of grass, she was gone. Zuko sized up Andre who was dressed in a dark silken shirt and pants similar to what Zuko wore as the Blue Spirit. He raised his eyebrows in curiosity. Andre held Zuko's mask and bowed.
"My daughter didn't deserve to die the way she did. Ozai could have walked away that night. My June was making an honest living and he took her away because she wounded his ego, because she stood up for herself. Well, now I've stood up for her." he nodded. Zuko closed his eyes and acutely felt the pain of loss for both himself and Andre. Andre continued. "I realized what kind of man your father was when I saw what he did to his own children; what he did to Jee a man who was completely loyal to him. A friend," He said shaking his head in sorrow. "Your mother was so brave. I know she would have wanted to see what you've become but she died as a real hero for you and Azula. I see where both you and your sister got your fire." Andre chuckled knowing he made a pun. Zuko smirked sadly. "It was easy keeping your secrets. I saw how you wanted to make things right. Do the right thing for Ba Sing Se. You really frustrated your old man's operations as the Blue Spirit." Zuko looked up at Andre in surprise. He didn't realize just how much the quiet and unassuming driver knew. Andre smiled faintly. "Your work was infinitely more effective than I could have done myself. Your father will never again terrorize this city." Zuko broke and tears flooded his eyes at the thought that this fight was truly over, but he couldn't really celebrate without his sister. He whispered. "Azula…" Andre hung his head in sadness at the senseless loss and wiped a rogue tear from his eye. Zuko and Andre heard sirens in the distance and knew that the police would be arriving shortly. Andre needed Zuko to know something else.
"I killed Mo Zhou after you left him that night. We knew about you long before the city did from Goku and Ryu. The day they chased the Kuvira girl. Those were the two idiots you took out before taking down Zhao. We just didn't know it was you specifically at that time. Your father wasn't out of town on your birthday like he said, he just needed an alibi to take care of some business and he wanted...he wanted to hurt you. Ozai was already planning to eliminate Mo Zhou. Mo Zhou was becoming a wild card and was plotting to take over the lower ring and your father wanted him out. It was convenient that you wounded Mo Zhou, but it was your father's orders to finish him. I'm not sorry to say that was one order from your father I was more than willing to follow." He said looking up at Zuko who looked back at Andre, the bodyguard, the gentle giant in surprise. Andre smiled softly, almost kindly. "I'm taking credit for being the Blue Spirit. I don't think the lady detective will react kindly to what you did to those henchmen though I completely understand why you did it. The scum had it coming. Fortunately, no one saw what happened that's alive to tell about it. That's when I grabbed the sword you dropped and your mask. I followed you to take my chance and end this. I am taking this responsibility off your shoulders. Our city needs you on the outside protecting it and I'm ready to go. I've lived my life and I don't think I want to live it much longer without my baby girl. I'm not afraid of dying, Zuko."
Zuko looked and felt like a small child as he watched and listened to Andre's confession. It was strange hearing this story about his father and realizing that the damage Ozai caused went far beyond his family and city. He would spend his entire life trying to change that. He bowed to Andre deeply and sincerely. Andre smiled again. "Contrary to what your father said, you are a brave, strong, and honorable man. I would have been more than proud to call you my son. Ozai didn't know who he raised: an infinitely better man than Ozai himself could have ever hoped he was. Zuko, be what he couldn't." At that Andre put on the mask just before the police approached and he got down on his knees with his hands up as the police surrounded him with shouts and orders. Korra ran up to Zuko and pulled him to her and held him when she saw Ozai on the ground dead. Zuko held on to Korra as if she kept him anchored and didn't stop the flow of tears that ran down his face this time. Now it really was over. Korra held on to Zuko as the coroner came to claim Ozai's body from the ground in front of the barn. Korra turned Zuko away from the sight and began walking back towards the front of the house to the other waiting teens. She sighed.
"When we finish taking statements, we'll go to the hospital to see your sister. Azula is a fighter and I swear that Katara is an angel on earth." Zuko froze. He said almost too low to hear, "Azula's…OK? She's not...?" Zuko crumbled to the ground and cried with relief. Korra called for a paramedic on her radio. "Zuko! Are you hurt? What happened?" she shouted afraid that perhaps the teen was injured and didn't speak up earlier. He stayed curled up on his knees as sobs continued to wrack his frame. He ground out, "I saw him shoot her…Azula fell—I …she's… alive. Thank the Gods. Thank Agni." He kept repeating his thanks over and over. Korra then understood why his spirit was so heavy earlier. When Azula went down it would have been easy to assume she was dead. Zuko didn't know Katara healed her. He chased after his father according to his friends right after his sister was shot. None of them saw who cut down the henchmen so none of them dared to say it was Zuko even if they thought it was. Korra didn't press the issue because she'd preferred not to know. Korra gave Zuko space to recover from the shock that his sister was still alive and when he calmed, she helped him sit up gently. She smiled. "It's all over now, kiddo. There was a high cost to pay but this nightmare is finally over," she said solemnly. Zuko exhaled. Korra wiped away his tears that continued to escape unintentionally. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but Zuko knew that though things would never be the same from here on out they were bound to get better.
The news media outlets were in a frenzy with the latest story to hit Ba Sing Se. Councilman Ozai Azulon was dead by the hand of the highly popularized vigilante the Blue Spirit. Editorials and opinions abounded as to whether or not the vigilante's brutal actions were justified. Ozai's death was not only highly publicized but it also revealed a scandal that ran decades and countries deep. The cartel that Azulon ran outside of his legitimate position as a member of the Earth King's Advisory Council extended far beyond the Earth Kingdom. Ozai had ties in Republic City and the former Fire Nation. Businessman Lao Bei Fong was brutally murdered for resisting Ozai's attempt to extort him and kidnap Azula who had been staying with the Bei Fong family for safety from Ozai's physical and emotional abuse tied to the fact that she was a fire bender. Ang Han Gyatso was a young and innocent victim of the senseless and ruthless violence against those who resisted the former Councilman. He too was a bender of his element and some believed he was the exhibitor of all the elements, the Avatar. Andre true to his word took credit for all the deaths associated with the previous night's final showdown and for the murder of Mo Zhao. He said that he had become the Blue Spirit to try to right some of the wrongs he knew that he was a part of working for Ozai Azulon. He also talked about how he sought revenge for his daughter's death at Ozai's command. News outlets flashed soundbites and clips from the previous reports of June Ming Wei who was found murdered and mutilated outside of her lower ring home. No one ever made the connection between June's untimely death and the Councilman and Mo Zhao until now. Up until then, she was another unfortunate victim of Mo Zhao, and hers was considered the worst case of rape and violence committed against women in the history of the city.
With the excessive media exposure of Ozai's dirty dealings, any council members who associated with Azulon were brought under close scrutiny and many as a result were under investigation. Long Feng sang like a bird about his associates and their dealings to cut a deal in his own case. He did not want to be the only person going down in infamy for his crimes and had no problems singling out those who were a part of Ozai's dark inner circle. Zuko and Katara spent the day at the hospital with Azula and Tophia who had been released to the Gyatso's care with her mother's permission. Poppy remained in the hospital for a few extra days until her blood pressure lowered and doctors were sure she was stable. Hakoda, Iroh, and Gran-Gran checked in on Poppy Bei Fong and the Gyatso's often during this time.
In Azula's hospital room, Katara was busy braiding Tophia's hair and Zuko was sitting next to his sister in deep conversation. They were speaking Fire Tongue again because the conversation was about their father and mother. "Did you know that Mom died because she was suppressing her bending?" Zuko asked. He was pretty sure that she didn't know and her response verified it. "What?" Azula was shocked. She had always felt as if her mother's death was wrong somehow as if it shouldn't have happened and now in light of all these truths coming out this makes the most sense. "So what you're telling me is that Mother slowly killed herself to save us from Ozai?" she asked in turn. "Yes," Zuko answered simply. "Mom knew what it would mean for all of us to suppress our bending, but she couldn't let Ozai know especially after what happened to Mr. Jee. Mom would have done it a thousand times if it meant saving us." He said. Zuko looked up at the ceiling as if he didn't want to say what he had to next but spit it out, "Mom wrote me a letter before she died. She asked our uncle to give it to me on my birthday." He bit the side of his lip nervously and looked at his sister to see how she would react, and she looked away to avoid eye contact. That wasn't normal. He glared at his sister skeptically. "You read it?" he huffed. He laughed incredulously. "Of course, you read it." He sighed. There was no point in getting angry. The letter was about her anyway. "Well? What are your thoughts?" He swallowed the lump forming in his throat.
Azula looked at her brother sharply her eyes shiny and wet with unshed tears. "For so long I thought maybe M-Mom didn't love me the way she loved you." She looked down at her hands twisting and playing with her fingers. "I resented the way it seemed she doted on you, coddled you even, but Mom knew both of us best, didn't she?" Azula admitted. Zuko looked away in an attempt not to become too emotional. He closed his eyes against the deep melancholy and sighed. He looked at his sister and smiled. "Yes, she did, and she loved us equally even more than she loved herself." Azula nodded. She knew this truth more now than ever before. Azula smirked and looked at Zuko with amusement. "I think Katara is really good for you. I'm glad you two got together this time around. It wouldn't have worked centuries ago with you as Fire Lord. Too many issues with the world back then…" Zuko looked at his sister oddly. Realization dawned on him suddenly and he smiled. "I think you're right. So, does this mean I have your blessing this time?" Zuko asked wiggling his eyebrows. Azula laughed out loud grabbing her chest with a groan at the slight stitch from her healing injury. "Ow! I suppose you both do. She did save my life." Azula said glancing at Katara subtly.
Katara had just finished putting the final touches on Tophia's braid and said in flawless Fire Tongue "It's really not polite to talk about someone in their presence even if it is in another language, but I'm glad we have your blessing." Zuko and Azula glanced sideways at each other and then to Katara. Tophia not wanting to be left out added in Fire Tongue, "Don't think that because we're not Fire Nation that we wouldn't know your language as well." Zuko and Azula gave each other another sideways glance and began laughing together throwing their heads back. Azula wiped away tears and asked, "Well, who doesn't know Fire Tongue?" Korra walked in with Sokka and Suki and said in perfect Fire Tongue. "Dunno, probably some dropouts and Sokka. It was a requirement for middle and high school." Sokka's mouth dropped open and he defended himself in perfect Fire Tongue. "I'll have you know that I speak Fire Tongue just fine and yes, I eavesdropped on all your conversations in Fire Tongue, bro," Sokka said looking at Zuko daring him to say anything about it. Zuko blinked. Zuko looked at Azula who blinked. "Wow. So, all this time everyone knew what we were talking about?" Azula said shaking her head. Hakoda, Gran-Gran, and Iroh walked in and Hakoda said in less refined but just as understandable Fire Tongue. "Yep, especially when you guys didn't think we were listening to you." Zuko who had enough switched to Earth Tongue. "Well, that certainly sucks turtle duck eggs…"