"How much longer until we get there? My feet are killing me." Mai's monotone voice breaks through the various noises of the forest, rising over the buzzing cicadas and rustling leaves.
"Not much longer!" Ty Lee bounces on her feet at the front of the group. "The aura is getting brighter and stronger with every step, it won't be long now!"
"Good," Azula says from her palace next to Zuko. "The army can't be far behind us. We need to get there as fast as possible."
"How could they even find this place?" Sokka asks. "We wouldn't have found it without Ty Lee, and I don't think they have a Ty Lee in the army."
"They're probably following us," Zuko says around the guilty lump in his throat. "We led them right to it."
"They've been following you since Ba Sing Se." A beat of silence follows Azula's words before she taps Zuko's elbow with her own. "It's not your fault. They would have found it regardless— you know how father is."
Her words are a small comfort, but it's not nearly enough to dissolve the darkness twisting in his stomach. Katara has been still and quiet at his side all day, face stony and words clipped, and her anxiety is starting to rub off on him. No matter how much she denies it, he can see the demons plaguing her mind in every move she makes, every additional line in her face. But he has to believe that this will all work out, otherwise fear will creep in like a thick fog, and at this point he doesn't know if he'd be able to dispel it. This has to work. It has to.
The ground becomes saturated with water as they walk. At first he thinks that the river they've been following is somehow leaking into the dirt around them, but a niggling in the back of his mind disagrees. With each squelching step the tugging in his chest gets more pronounced, and pressure builds behind the invisible hook latched onto his ribs. He's practically vibrating with energy, anxiety and anticipation and a touch of excitement mingle in a roiling potion in his stomach. He tries to focus on the terrain, how it's reminding him more and more of the swamp they had stumbled into so many months ago. Of course, the swamp hadn't been inhabited by strange mythical creatures and hadn't been swarming with glowing butterflies like the forest is now. Soon there are so many of them circling the group that they have to stop, unable to even see the trees around them. Aang creates a gentle breeze to push them away, and when they emerge from the living cloud, their surroundings have changed entirely.
They stand at the edge of a huge clearing, at the center of which is the biggest tree Zuko has ever seen— it makes the banyan-grove tree look like a sapling. The trunk stretches what has to be miles into the air, and it's about as thick as three of the trees that reside in the forest they've just emerged from. The color scheme is the closest to natural that he's seen since they've crossed the Serpent's Pass, verdant vines and leaves dipping down almost like a willow, dotted with small white and pink blossoms. The canopy covers the entire clearing, but the heavenly space is still lit. The trunk is a rich, shining brown, but it still contains facets of color that shine in the sunlight. The strangest part, though, is the constant flow of water that comes from the top of the tree. Thin waterfalls reach down from somewhere high above, surrounding the trunk in sporadic intervals. The entire clearing sits in water, four inches deep in every direction, but Zuko finds that his feet aren't wet. Sunshine bounces off the water and onto the various animals that drink from it, which have all turned to look up at them upon the group's arrival.
"This is it," Ty Lee whispers, her voice soft and reverent. "The Source."
Even if she hadn't told him, the tugging in his chest lets him know that this is their destination. The power that bleeds from the gargantuan tree is strong, but there's something soft about it, something light and airy and plush that feels warm on his skin.
He isn't sure who steps forward first, but in a moment the entire group is moving towards the tree. The various creatures' glowing eyes trace their steps, but none of them move to leave. His chest feels like it might burst with the pressure that continues to build there; it feels strong enough to crack his ribs. As they get closer to the tree— The Source, he reminds himself— he finds that he can't look away, not even at the odd lemur-like creatures that stare at them from a group a few feet away. His feet move him towards The Source without him even having to think about it, and before he knows it, he's standing right at the base.
It's somehow even bigger now that he's standing right under it, the top so high in the air that his brain can't even comprehend the distance. The pressure in his chest is about ready to burst, the force of it almost painful. He raises his hand, distantly realizing that Katara, Toph, Aang, and Ty Lee are all doing the same thing at the same time, and when his palm lays flat against the rough bark, the five of them exhale in tandem as he feels the pressure flow out of him and into The Source. His eyes drift closed, and the world slips away. All he knows is the texture of the bark against his calloused hand and the vivid colors that flow all around him in his mind's eye. It feels so real— he's almost convinced that he's been transported to another place, plucked from the earth and deposited in an entirely different reality. He can only compare the sensation to how he had felt under the water in that placid lake; peaceful, suspended in a single moment. He can feel the heartbeat of the world beneath his fingertips— all of the life that exists rests against his palm, pulsing and warm. An unnamable feeling spreads from his palm down through his body into the marrow of his bones, something heavy and bright and alive. It takes root in his soul before reality comes hurtling back to him.
The five Othered jolt back from The Source all at the same time. They share a look, unable to describe what just happened in words, but somehow they know that they all had the same otherworldly experience. Zuko feels like something in him is finally complete, like he's been missing a piece without even realizing it and it's finally fit itself back into his chest like he's a living puzzle. He registers the rest of the group talking somewhere behind him, but the words buzz past his ears unheard. His mind is still back in that strange place, even if he's unable to replicate the colors and feelings he had experienced just moments before.
Suddenly, all of the animals in the clearing snap their heads to the edge of the forest. Zuko's eyes follow their gaze, and he squints at nothing to try to see whatever threat the creatures have sensed. After a beat, every animal in the clearing bolts in the opposite direction. They move faster than what's natural, leaving trails of light behind them as they escape through the far side of the clearing.
"They're here." His stomach drops to his feet at Azula's words. He knew the army was behind them, but he thought they'd have at least a little more time to prepare.
"Okay." Sokka takes a deep breath as he addresses the group. "We all know what to do. It's just a matter of doing it." He looks each of them in the eye, and nods his encouragement. "Good luck everyone. Be smart, and be safe."
Katara lunges forward to hug her brother briefly before turning back towards the group. The rest of them give hasty words of encouragement and share quick embraces before the battle begins. There's a stinging sense of finality to it all, a tingling acid that curdles in his stomach. The four Othered hug quickly; their little family is finally being put to the ultimate test. Zuko kisses Katara as fast as he can while still trying to convey all of his emotions through the act.
"I love you," he exhales the words against Katara's lips, and she nods in return.
"I love you too." There are tears in her eyes, and he kisses her one last time before they break apart.
"Be safe, okay?" Katara nods again, and he steps back before he can't bear to let her go. "See you on the other side."
He runs off towards where they had entered, and he sees Katara, Aang, and Toph fan out around him. The water beneath his feet splashes violently as he moves towards the oncoming danger, and he tries to take deep, measured breaths. We can do this. It'll be fine.
"Brother!" Azula calls from behind him, and quickly catches up once he slows his pace.
"I thought you were staying back with the rest of the group?"
Azula shakes her head. "If father is here, I want to face him together." He catches a glimpse of the little girl he remembers growing up with in Azula's eyes, but any fear is quickly overshadowed by determination. She's grown so much, even just in the few years he's been gone, and he couldn't be more proud of the woman she's become. He throws his arms around her in a tight embrace, and kisses the top of her head. She pulls apart from him, and with a nod she draws her sword.
They wait in tense silence for the army to reveal itself. Zuko feels his heart hammering against his chest, straining against his ribs, and prays to any god that will listen that they all make it out of this alive. The clearing morphs into a liminal space, a pause between now and then, a brief reprieve before their final act. After the slowest minute he's ever experienced, the air at the edge of the clearing starts so shimmer and sway. Azula tightens her grip on her sword next to him. He tries to take a deep breath, but it catches in his throat when the image that haunts his nightmares walks into the clearing followed by dozens of soldiers in blood red uniforms.
"Breathe, Zuzu," Azula whispers to him as more soldiers materialize behind their father. Zuko forces his lungs to expand and contract around the crisp air that hangs in the clearing.
By the time Ozai has gotten close enough for them to even hear him, there's no less than one hundred soldiers behind him. They wear red armor trimmed in gold and carry shining swords, but his father is the only one that wears a cruel smile.
"Well, isn't this a nice family reunion." A drop of ice slides down Zuko's spine as he hears his father's voice for the first time in three years. "Azula." Ozai narrows his eyes at his sister, and Zuko sees her knuckles whiten around her sword. "I should have known you would defect. You're just as pathetic as your brother." He spits the last word like venom, and as much as Zuko doesn't want to admit it, he feels the poison in his veins.
"Father." Azula's voice is calm, but he sees the strain in her jaw as she twirls her sword into a defensive stance.
"I think it's time you stepped down." Zuko finds his words and pushes them through his clenched teeth with no small effort. He balls his hands into fists to try and quell their shaking.
"You have no say in what I do," Ozai snarls at Zuko. "You lost your right to the throne years ago."
"But I haven't." His sister's words are a declaration of war. Ozai's eyes flick to Azula, and all hell breaks loose.
The army rushes forward, and Zuko takes a steadying breath before he runs into the fray. Azula aims for their father, so he runs past them and summons a massive wave of fire. He pushes out with everything he has, and the wave rolls over a sizable chunk of the army. But it seems like Ozai came prepared to face his son; many of the soldiers simply run through the fire with only scorched clothes and red skin. Fuck. He reaches for the power he had felt coming from The Source, and it jumps to his fingers in a blink. I just have to make it hotter. I can burn their armor and that'll slow them down. Other soldiers rush past him, but he can't take the time to worry about them. He hears blasting winds and lashing water on either side, and he has no doubt that his friends can take care of any soldiers that go beyond him.
He builds energy in his belly, lets it get hot enough that it starts to burn, and releases it in a massive plume from his mouth. The fire burns brighter than he's ever seen it, spots of white flickering at its center, and he hears the screams of soldiers as they fall to the ground. He doesn't take any time to celebrate, instead launching into a series of wide ranged attacks. He draws from every reserve he has to imbue his fire with all the energy he can muster, but for as many soldiers that he drops, more seem to materialize from the forest. With a shout, he pulls his dao from the scabbard on his back and coats them in a sheath of fire. With wide arcs he sends wave after wave of flame towards the army; any soldier that dares to come close is quickly taken down by either the fire itself or the melting armor clinging to their uniforms. A few manage to get close enough to face his swords, but they drop like flies around him. Zuko doesn't think about the molten metal as it slides from the soldiers' chests and heads, and does his best to block out the screams coming from every direction. He hears Aang shout to his right, and sees a massive group of soldiers fly back towards the trees, their bodies hitting the solid trunks with sickening cracks. Zuko chances a look at his friend, and sees the tears running in tracks down his cheeks before Aang doubles over and retches into the clear water at their feet. Zuko swallows his guilt— he can't think about how this is all his fault, not now. He can feel guilty when The Source is safe.
The muscles in his arms are beginning to cramp when he hears a foreign rumbling sound coming from the trees. A large chunk of dark metal is rolled out of the forest by more of his father's soldiers. It's a large box adorned with a cylindrical spout that reaches far past the base— he's never seen anything like it. He cuts a path through the soldiers to get closer to the hulking contraption; it's got two tanks on either side, each sloshing with some sort of liquid, and four soldiers stand on the back and fumble with various levers. Before he can truly figure out what the thing is, one of the men stationed on the back yells a command, and the soldiers walking in front of the contraption part like the river had for Katara when they crossed the Serpent's Pass. With another shout, the men riding on the contraption push a heavy looking lever, and a huge, continuous burst of flame spews out of the mouth of the cylinder. Holy shit.
Air rips from his lungs as he realizes what the contraption is. It's a machine made simply to destroy, and it wields his own element against him. It feels like a cruel joke, no doubt orchestrated by his father to drive Zuko's guilt in like a sword to the chest; he can almost feel it as the water beneath the machine starts to rise as angry, hissing steam.
He doesn't think before he drops into a dead sprint towards the monstrous metal machine. The artificial fire is incredibly difficult for him to get a hold of, but somehow he manages to get a grip on it. He rips it apart as fast as he can, but more flames spew out of the barrel no matter how much he tears it away. Think, Zuko, think! How are they making the fire? Where's it coming from? It hits him like a tidal wave when he realizes that the sloshing sounds must be some sort of alcohol or flammable liquid. The breaths heaving out from his lungs grow sharp when he realizes what he must do. The whole world is depending on us. I have to do this. His eyes graze over the crowd of soldiers that surround the machine, each of them unaware of what's about to happen. Zuko takes a deep, shaking breath before forcing the flames that shoot from the contraption's mouth back around to the tanks of accelerant on the sides. He gasps around the effort to hold it there, and squeezes his eyes shut around a sob as he clenches his fists.
The entire machine explodes in a violent shower of fire and metal.
The force of the blast throws him back, the harsh landing forcefully expelling all the air from his lungs. Screams and wails and the sounds of clashing metal surround him as he fights to catch his breath. As soon as his body will allow it, he rolls onto his hands and knees and retches into the crystal water, just like Aang. He pushes the thought of his pacifist friend from his head— he probably won't even be able to look Zuko in the eye once this is all over. But it's not over yet.
He hauls himself to his feet and clutches at the open wound in his side. It's not that bad; nothing he can't take care of when the battle is over. He takes the time to look over the battlefield. What was once a serene clearing is now a violent production; the once clear water is quickly turning a cloudy pink from all of the blood that seeps into it, the grass and flowers that had poked through trampled and dead under his shoes and the unmoving soldiers scattered around The Source. Thankfully, The Source itself looks to be unharmed. Despite all of the bodies littering the clearing and tainting the water, there's still a shocking number of soldiers coming at them. They're not all dead. They can't be. Zuko repeats this mantra as he takes in his friends. Katara is lashing out with her water wildly, flinging and freezing soldiers in droves as they advance. Toph spins in the water and lets a sizable boulder fly into the army; Zuko sees her wince as the boulder comes crashing down on the ground at least fifty yards away, trapping a handful of men beneath it. Aang— the monk, the pacifist, forced to fight a war that Zuko dragged him into— is stone faced as he sends gusts of air at the soldiers using his glider. The rest of his friends he can't see, but he hopes and prays and begs the gods to keep them safe as he runs back into the fight.
I have to find Ozai. If he can take out his father, they can stop all of the fighting. He runs first to Aang, but Ozai is nowhere to be seen. He ends up back to back with his friend, someone he considers to be the younger brother he never had, as they fight for their lives, and the lives of everyone in the world. How did I ever think I could do this? He's surprised at the ferocity of Aang's attacks, but doesn't miss the tears and gasps as he cries. Zuko does his best to hold back his own tears— he has to be strong. Once the soldiers thin around Aang, Zuko makes his way towards Toph. Flames ignite in his palms as he approaches her, and he sends fireballs flying into the ranks to help thin the crowd surrounding her.
"Zuko!" He hardly ever hears Toph use his real name, and as he approaches her he sees dark blood staining her shirt.
"Toph! Are you okay?"
"No." She grunts with the effort of bringing her element up from the earth to send a handful of soldiers flying. "I need you to do something for me."
"Whatever you need."
"I need you to cauterize this." She gestures to the dark spot on her side. "I can't stop the bleeding while I fight."
Zuko takes in her face, paler than usual, and sees her chest heaving with each breath. "Okay." She adjusts her stance so that her wound is exposed. "Ready?"
"Nope. Just do it."
He heats his hand, and swallows bile as he presses it to Toph's wound. A scream rips from her throat, raw and painful; he blinks the tears back and clenches his jaw against the violent urge to retch again. It's over quickly, and Toph takes a deep, shuddering breath when he pulls his shaking hand back.
"You're ridiculously strong, you know that?" Zuko can't help but sing her praises as he fights alongside her. Toph is barely over five feet tall, but she's the toughest person he's ever met.
"Of course I do, Sparky!" Her grin looks more like a grimace, but he'll take it. "Now go find your dad and beat his ass so I can take a nap!"
With a nod and a last burst of flame, he takes off towards The Source. Soldiers fall around him as Mai throws her blades into the cracks in their armor; she barely has time to spare him a glance and she runs past and snatches the projectiles from the bodies she's dropped. He presses on, passing Ty Lee as she twirls and spins like nothing he's ever seen. She's not fast enough for him to miss the blood on her knuckles and the tears staining her cheeks, though. The water under his feet is truly red now, a sickening puddle of blood spanning across the entire battlefield. Suki cuts in front of him, taking out three soldiers in the blink of an eye before running back towards the crowd she came from. Sokka sticks close by her to cover her back, and he sends a solemn nod to Zuko as he passes. There's blood splattered on his clothes, and a trail of it runs down the side of his face and disappears below the neckline of his shirt.
His breaths are growing frantic; he can't find his father or Azula anywhere. The horde of soldiers is thinning, but he still has to weave and jump around the bodies that lie sprawled across the ground. He hears some moaning and groaning, and tells himself that they'll live. It's a baseless hope, but one he clings to with an iron fist. Katara comes back into his sight, dark hair unbound and flying every which way as she turns and leaps and lashes out with her water. She draws from the pool beneath her feet; the vision of her manipulating the bloodied water is too familiar. She is a dark spirit, deadly and precise even in her graceful beauty. He races towards her and blasts a handful of soldiers away with a well placed whip of fire. The two of them together are a force to be reckoned with; he's known this for months, but with the added power that The Source has supplied them with, he thinks that maybe he and Katara have a solid chance of taking care of the rest of the soldiers so that he doesn't even have to worry about his father.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Zuko sees him.
Ozai hacks at Azula with his sword, the blade coming down in powerful overhead cuts. His father's hair is undone and tangled, and he's favoring his left side. Azula's hair is almost out of her top knot as well, and a chunk at the front is slashed shorter than the rest, the angle corresponding with a thin cut on her cheek, but otherwise she looks like she's doing alright. There's blood on both of them— Zuko tries not to see any irony in the shedding of his family's blood by their own hands. He stays with Katara until the soldiers around her have decreased significantly before turning to help Azula.
She and Ozai are closer to him than they had been moments before, and Zuko feels a jolt in his gut at the fact that his father is so close to Katara. He whips his fire at Ozai, who dodges out of the way at the last second. His father parries Azula's blows, and Zuko does his best to keep the man on his toes while also steering him away from Katara.
"You two are worthless!" Spit flies from Ozai's mouth, his face an angry red, his roar rising over the sounds of the fight raging around them. "You'll never amount to anything in this world! You're just as pathetic as your mother!"
At the mention of their mother, Zuko's vision goes red. He shouts as he punches and kicks at his father, the fire getting so close that Azula has to back off so that she isn't burned. All of his hate, all of his pain and shame and guilt bleed into the flames and explode in Ozai's face. It's a violent catharsis, one that's been a long time coming. Ozai bends down to pick up a half-melted gold helmet from the ground and hurls it at Zuko; he dodges the projectile, but it forces him to let up on his attack. Azula takes over and advances on Ozai with a shout. She drives him back, managing to slash at the perfect place on their father's chest plate to send it clattering to the ground. Ozai clutches his bleeding chest and glares at his children; the malice in his eyes as sharp as his sword, gleaming bright and menacing in his white-knuckled grasp.
"It's over!" Zuko calls to him. "Just give up and we won't have to kill you!"
"Kill me?" Ozai lets out a manic laugh. "You can't kill me!"
"Watch me," Azula growls as she stalks forward, and for a moment Zuko actually thinks they're going to win.
Until he sees Katara backing up towards Ozai.
She doesn't even notice who she's nearing— she's too focused on the soldiers that are forcing her to backpedal. Ozai must see the terror in Zuko's eyes, because he takes one look at his son, dons a cruel smile, turns to Katara, and shoves his blade straight through her back.