The wind whipped at my hair, causing my braid loops to flutter and my loose hair to trail behind me as Zuko sat in the saddle, thinking pensively to himself. I glanced back at him, wondering what he was thinking about. Well, he probably wasn't lacking in things to occupy his mind. There's his father, his sister, the comet, the showdown between Ozai and Aang, the showdown between us and Azula, the plan to burn down the Earth Kingdom…he was spoilt for choice really. Oh, and I guess there was also the fact that I'd kissed him last night, but I kind of hoped that had become pushed to the bottom of the pile of things to think about since we had bigger problems right now. We flew in silence, Zuko remaining wrapped up in his thoughts until I heard him start to speak.

"Hey Kayo…I was wondering. About last night, you know…"

Panicking I tensed up and clutched the reins, biting down on my lip as Zuko started to ask me about what I did but thankfully, the universe provided me with the perfect distraction. "Look!" I cut across Zuko and pointed at the sky, where a brilliant flash of light entered into view as a burning white burst which looked like a star that had started to fall from above and was now streaking across our sky which filled the entire horizon with a brilliant red hue, flickers of rose, amber, gold and all the shades of a sunset cascading across my vision. "It's Sozin's comet!" Zuko stopped and looked up, both of us struck in awe by just how amazing and beautiful it was.

"It's nothing like I imagined." Zuko said as he took a deep breath then flexed his fingers as I looked over my shoulder towards him.

"Can you feel it? Is your bending getting stronger?"

"Yeah, I can feel it. It kinda feels like when I redirected my father's lightning, so much power breathing into me. It's unreal." I watched as he meditated on the sensation and I looked up at him, the wind pulling at my hair as Appa continued to fly full speed. The comet really was breath taking, and for a long while all I could do was just watch as it streaked across the sky, like living, breathing fire. Thankfully Zuko didn't try to ask me about last night and when we passed into Fire Nation waters, I leaned forwards in tense anticipation.

Strangely the palace was more or less deserted when Appa flew over. No one appeared to try and shoot us out of the sky like we expected, in fact nothing happened at all. There were no fire benders, no guards, no one at all. It was like it had been completely abandoned. Zuko directed me to land us in the ceremonial plaza where it seemed the only people in the entire palace were gathered, Azula and the Fire Sages preparing to crown her. "Let's go buddy!" Growling as I veered Appa around, he landed just before the Fire Lord diadem was placed in Azula's hair, the sage stiffening when he saw us, making Azula glare at him threateningly.

"What are you waiting for? Do it!" When she heard Appa, her head then turned to face us where we landed in the courtyard, Zuko standing up in the saddle as I jumped down to land on the ground lightly.

"Sorry, but you're not going to become Fire Lord today. I am." Jumping down to stand beside me, Azula laughed at her brother, robed rather grandly for the ceremony but I noticed that her hair was a mess. It wasn't smooth and perfect like it usually was, but it was chopped badly with a cluster hanging over one side of her face with the topknot barely kept in place, not to mention her makeup was terrible. The girl looked insane, like something in her had finally snapped.

"You're hilarious."

"And you're going down." The Fire Sage made to crown Azula but she stopped him with a raise of her hand, choosing to tie up loose ends such as her brother as I nervously glanced between them. Was this really going to down like we planned? Azula seemed a little more psychotic than usual, which could be very bad for us.

"Wait. You want to be Fire Lord? Fine. Let's settle this. Just you and me, brother. The showdown that was always meant to be. Agni Kai!" Azula challenged and Zuko immediately accepted as he stepped forwards.

"You're on." Quickly grabbing his wrist, I pulled him aside slightly and lowered my voice to talk.

"Are you sure this is a good idea Zuko? Azula may be a crazy fear instilling monster of a human being, but her fire bending skills are no joke. You shouldn't play into her hands unless you're absolutely sure you can beat her." I warned him but Zuko gave me a reassuring look, ignoring the maniac smirk on Azula's face.

"It's okay, I know I can take her this time."

"What makes you so confident this time? I mean, you've improved greatly ever since you went to see the Sun Warriors, but we don't know what Azula's been holding back either."

"There's something off about her, I can't explain it but she's slipping." Zuko said to me, looking over at his sister who did look like she was losing it. "And this way, no one else has to get hurt."

"I'm not worried about me getting hurt. I just don't…" Biting on my lip, I squeezed his wrist urgently as I directed a stubborn and strong willed look at him. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I'll be fine. Besides you're here with me. I know I can trust you to watch my back." Reaching forward, Zuko rubbed his thumb into my cheek and brushed at my eyelashes, making me blink slowly before he let go and faced Azula, making me step back as the two of them walked over to face each other for the ritual Agni Kai.

"I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother." Azula crowed as she removed her ceremonial robes, preparing to fight as Zuko took up his beginning stance.

"No, you're not." Staying well back but close enough still that I could intervene if things started to go wrong, I held my breath and tried to steel myself for the intense show that was about to begin. These were no Ember Island players dancing around with coloured streamers. This was the real deal, and it was about to get real hot around here.

Azula struck first, her stance looking a little off as she pushed her palm forwards with a hand strike, blue fire billowing outward and Zuko blocked my creating two waves of flames and shot them forwards to result in an almighty crash of blue and golden red flames. Taking the offensive, Azula kicked and released several bursts of blue flames towards Zuko, who either blocked or evaded as Azula began to completely run wild. Soon enough several buildings were on fire and I stood back to watch the clash of flames, brother against sister, as both sought to defeat the other.

It was an awesome display, the power was undeniable and it was more than a little terrifying as I stood rooted to my spot, watching as the flames only grew bigger and hotter the longer the fight carried out. Zuko seemed to have gained complete mastery over his element, finally coming into his own and becoming the powerful bender I knew he could be. He remained steady and level headed, controlling his attacks whilst Azula seemed to rely purely on her strength and rage to try and take Zuko down. Zuko began to slide backwards, holding off blue fire before pivoting on his foot to steady his stance, maintaining a fire stream from his fist.

Sending a wheel of flame like a whip down upon her brother, Azula created a spiralling column of flames which Zuko split aside with his own fire as I stood, mesmerised and terrified at the same time. I'd never seen anything like this, and I doubt I'd see anything like it ever again. Zuko punched forwards and created two fireballs at once which coiled around each other before combining into one massive blast which Azula narrowly avoided, beginning to slip further as the fear started to show.

She glided over the ground, keeping low and using fire from her feet and hand to propel herself towards Zuko before shooting two blasts of untameable fire at him, forcing him to jump with a punch downwards so that his own flames would cast him high into the air to avoid Azula's attack before arcing his heel downwards with a slice, fire following his foot to block a second fire blast then as he landed, Zuko shielded himself with another eruption of fire which completely obliterated Azula's third blow.

The mad princess began to skate in a circle around Zuko, his attacks missing her but cutting of her fire by slicing through it like a blade as I tightened my fist over my chest, feeling my pulse thrumming strongly in my veins as everything continued to build towards the ending. I was barely breathing, forgetting everything except the devastating display of power and destruction before me. Seeing that Azula was too fast to knock down, Zuko changed his stance and instead drops down and swept his legs across the ground with streams of fire following his movements which lashed out in a spiralling ring which takes out Azula's balance as she stumbled, losing control then hit the ground at full force.

I moved forwards without even thinking, running towards Zuko then stopped myself in time, knowing that I couldn't intercede. Azula cried out as she struck the ground and rolled, the momentum carrying her forwards before she dragged herself back up, hunched over and hair in complete disarray, struggling to breathe as she continued to spiral downwards, completely losing control of herself. Looking to my left I watched as Zuko took up a preparative stance once more, only a few feet in front of me as I then looked to Azula. I think Zuko really was going to win this. Azula had completely lost her mind, she was unfocused and wild. There's no way she'll win now.

"No lightning, today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?" Zuko taunted, knowing full well that it would push Azula over the edge.

"Oh, I'll show you lightning!" Baited at the taunt, Azula began to generate lightning from her fingertips, making large sweeping motions as she shifted her weight as Zuko prepared to take the hit, calming his mind and focusing on Azula who paused for a brief moment, seemingly gathering more energy before all at once, she thrust out her fingertips and released the lightning. Not at Zuko. At me. It came rushing towards me like a bluish white whip, the crackling screech causing my eyes to widen as I screamed and naturally lifted my arms to protect myself just as Zuko launched himself forwards, leaping into the air and stretching out his hand as he cried out in alarm.

"ZUKO!" My arms dropped and I lunged towards him too late, his hand catching the lightning and absorbing it into his body where he curled up, the sheer force of pain and agony from holding that much power within whilst not being grounded must have been more excruciating than I could ever imagine. I felt everything in my body shut down, the sheer force of fear and terror causing me to completely freeze up as Zuko hit the ground and the lightning jumped out of his body from his other hand and was released wilding into the sky, clashing with thunder which rumbled throughout the sky.

Collapsed on the ground Zuko contorted and twitched as residual electricity coursed through his body until he rolled onto his back but didn't stand up. It was then that my body woke up again, seemingly coming back to life and my feet started moving before my mind had even registered what had happened, running to Zuko in order to reach him, to heal him, but when lightning struck the ground in front of me I skid into my shoes in order to halt, turning to Azula as she cackled wildly with laughter, true mania and insanity rippling through her laugh as everything went cold inside me. I was angry. So angry that I wanted to choke the laugh right out of her, and in that moment I found myself steeling myself of any hesitation, any indication towards abstaining from violence. I wanted Azula to pay, and I was going to make it happen.