Disclaimer: I own no part of Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor make any money from it. This is merely a fanfiction.
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Book Four:
Air
Chapter Thirty
The Legacy of Air Part 5:
Avatar Vs. Fire Lord
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My Grandmother used to tell me that the forces of destiny go full circle. I didn't used to know what she meant and for years I pondered her words.
It wasn't until the forces of chance – no, fate – swept me up in the currents of destiny that my eyes began to open.
It began with a Boy.
A boy afraid of the forces of destiny, a boy afraid of change, a boy afraid of growing up.
But the winds of fate blew him our way.
And so, as the currents took my canoe out from under me, carried us about in the sea of change, it led us to the Boy In The Iceberg.
Hope was reborn that day.
And it spread. The same seas that carried us, carried it to Kyoshi Island. To Omashu. From there to the North Pole. And Gao Ling. All the way to Ba Sing Se.
And even to the shores of the very Fire Nation itself.
However, the journey to one's destiny does not come without missteps and perils. No journey comes without incident.
As we walk the path to our destiny, the path branches off in separate directions. There come choices. Decisions.
And consequence.
The pathway to our destiny also comes with fellow-travelers. Those that urge us on, give us the courage, the resolve to see the journey through to the end.
Along the way, we also meet other travelers. Those who tell us the path we are on is too difficult or won't bring us to our destiny. They point to the crossroads and tell us that the divergent path is the correct one and will more readily take us where we need to go. They tell us if we stay on the strait path, it will only bring pain and misery and will not take us to our destiny at all.
And the Boy In The Iceberg did at times veer from the strait path. He did listen to those obstinate voices. He did take alternate paths.
Too late did he learn that the alternate ways were mere illusions, phantoms to distract him from the correct course. He at times fell in the dirt and found himself back at the very beginning of the path.
And things seemed hopeless. How could he start over again?
But then he looks up and sees us – his friends. We extend our hands and smile, laugh at the mishap. We set him on his feet, dust off his clothes, take his arms and lead him on the first step back on the true path to his destiny.
And we brave the perils together. We fight at times, argue over what the correct course is. But we never give up.
And when we come to the end of the path, we are surprised to see that it took us full circle … back to the beginning.
Yes, the Boy had reached the end of his journey … and it brought him back to the beginning.
And so the forces of the universe wait with baited breath. They watch as the Boy From the Iceberg lands on the stone floors, the stars hanging above him.
They watch as the greatest evil to threaten the balance turns to face him.
They stare at each other.
We suck in our breaths, holding it. The deep breath before the plunge.
The end of the world is not an easy thing to witness.
But I still cling on to the same hope that I had at the beginning.
Somehow, I still believe he will save the world …
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"Some of you may think that the Fire Nation has made you powerless!"
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"Yes, they have taken away your ability to bend. But they can't take away your courage! And it is your courage they should truly fear! Because it runs deeper than any mine you've been forced to dig, any ocean that keeps you far from home. It is the strength of your hearts that make you who you are. Hearts that will remain unbroken when all rocks and stone have eroded away. The time to fight back is now! "
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"I can tell you that the Avatar has returned! "
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Deep in the shadowy crevices, Koh watched.
He watched as the Avatar walked towards the Beast. He watched Sozin turn, ready for combat.
And Koh smiled. Koh smiled because he had worked tirelessly towards this moment. He had observed both Sozin and Aang, watching them, seeing their strengths and weaknesses. Sozin may have thought he had betrayed Koh. He may have thought that Koh was furious with him.
But in truth, the alliance with Sozin mattered very little to Koh.
Sozin had long outlived his usefulness to the Face Stealer. All he needed was for Sozin – for mortals – to become such a threat, to spread the practice of Energybending so far, that Yama would destroy them all.
Koh mulled over the irony of Sozin's question to the Court before he killed them.
"Just who was the puppet here?"
Sozin thought he held all the cards. But in reality, Koh had been the one pulling his strings this whole time. And his marionette had danced flawlessly to his tune.
In truth, Koh cared very little who won today. If Sozin won, Koh won. But if by some miracle the Boy found a way … if he emerged from the wreckage triumphant … well, it wouldn't be a setback.
Koh had a failsafe. A contingency.
Yes, Koh had all his bases covered.
So no matter who won today, they would all lose …
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Aang squared his shoulders. He spread his feet and pointed his staff. "Sozin …"
Sozin smiled. He turned over the balcony and observed the battle in the distance, watched the retreating Resistance forces. He gazed up at the stars, basking in the warmth of their glow. "Providence smiles kindly upon me today …"
Aang had a flashback to his final confrontation with Ozai during the Summer. He had tried to reason with him, but Ozai had been too stubborn and arrogant to listen.
But Sozin was not Ozai. Power-mad as he was, Sozin was still a supreme pragmatist. Perhaps somehow Aang could get it to sink in that bigger things were at stake than just the two of them.
He would at least try.
"Sozin … you have to listen to me … even now Yama is readying her forces. She will invade our world and annihilate us until there are no mortals left! You believe you should have been the Avatar? You believed you were worthy of the Avatar Spirit? Now is the time to prove it! Release the Patron Spirits! Let them return to their homes! Please … while there's still time! You can be the hero! You can stop all of this! You wanted an alliance between Avatar and Fire Lord? Well here it is! Help me – help me show Yama that she does not need to destroy us! Help me Sozin, before you ensure the destruction of all the people you claim to want to save!"
Sozin was still staring up at the skies. "Listen to you … a century ago you spat in my face … you rejected my offers, Roku. Rejected my friendship. But now that you're backed into a corner you suddenly realize you need me … but I no longer need you. Not when I have the power of the Patron Spirits. Not when I have connected myself to the Spirit World. Why have an alliance between Avatar and Fire Lord … when I have combined the Avatar and Fire Lord into one entity? There is no longer a need for such an alliance. I have become a new Avatar. The Avatar is the Fire Lord!"
"Would you just listen to reason?!"
"Why? When you did not listen my reasoning all those years ago …?"
"You're really going to risk the entire world over your hurt feelings?!"
"Enough." Sozin pointed at the boy. "You're not the one calling the shots in this world anymore. The world does not need you. It has me. And as for Yama, have a little faith Roku. Have I not mastered the Patron Spirits? They bend to my will. As will Koh. And Yama. And any spirit that dares get in my way …"
"Just listen to yourself!" Aang protested. "You can't possibly …"
"I have gone further than any mortal … even the Avatar … I am the most powerful being who has ever lived! I am invincible …"
Aang shook his head. "If you listen to me, this ends today! But if you're not strong enough to stop Yama -."
"But I am! Haven't you been listening? Yama knows I have become too much for her. And that my powers are only growing. That is why she plans to wipe everything out. She fears me. And you … you're just a boy who the Avatar Spirit mindlessly chose … a baby Air Nomad born at the precise moment Avatar Roku died … there was nothing special about you. Or Roku. If the Avatar Spirit truly cared about bringing balance, it would have chosen someone who had the drive and foresight to see the world's true problems and had the strength to actually cure them! If the Avatar Spirit had a mind at all, it would have chosen me."
Aang shook his head. "I had hoped … I see now that some people just cannot be reasoned with. There are some people who words and logic alone cannot reach." He looked up with determination. "But be warned Sozin – I will do whatever it takes to stop you! I will use force if I have to –"
Sozin began laughing. "You only just reconnected to the Avatar Spirit. I have the Patron Spirits! And I have Energybended thousands upon thousands of benders over the last century! My powers are infinite!"
Aang agreed. "Maybe … but the human spirit is unbounded …"
"Enough!" Sozin punched his first forward. A jet of orange erupted from his knuckles.
Aang stepped back, tossing his glider aside. He was ready.
He spread his legs, splaying his hands outward. A wall of earth rose up, blocking the blast. Kicking the earthen shield aside, Aang was in the air, flames blasting out from his feet.
Sozin used Airbending to snuff them out.
Aang was there, his face determined, his fist reared back. Sozin broke the punch with a chop, delivering a jaw-jarring punch into the face. Aang staggered back. Sozin was burrowing underground. The Fire Lord burst up from the stone floor, under Aang's guard, his index and middle finger in Aang's face.
Aang's eyes widened. He grabbed Sozin's fingers, allowing the lightning to course through his body, using his other hand as rod. He redirected the lightning high into the sky.
There was a clap of thunder.
He turned.
Sozin was gone.
"Above you!"
Aang whirled. Sozin was coming again. The Fire Lord landed, a flaming fist headed straight for Aang's head. Aang deflected it, spinning from the force of the attack. He rolled across the arena and his eyes widened as more lightning came his way …
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The final battle had begun …
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"Are we there? Are we safe?" Several soldiers left from the Resistance Army arrived at a clearing deep in the woods. Hundreds of wounded lay about on the ground as Yagoda and other healers tended to them.
Sokka, face grim, was leading the last of the retreating Resistance forces to the med-camp. "For the moment. The Coalition search parties are on our tails. Soon nowhere will be safe."
Toph punched her fist into her hand. "We should've stayed behind … helped more people get out!" She was following Sokka along with Suki. Behind them, Katara lingered, wiping her eyes.
Sokka sighed. "It was foolish to challenge the Coalition army head-on. They were much larger and more powerful than we ever realized …"
At the med-camp, Commander Jee and Qin limped up to Sokka. Jee had his arm in a brace … Qin was limping. "Our regiment was overwhelmed, but we held the line as long as we could," Jee admitted to Sokka. "What are Chieftain Hakoda's orders now?"
Sokka looked up at him with a solemn expression and Jee realized instantly what had happened. "Then you are the commanding Chieftain now. What are your orders?"
Sokka sighed. This was all too much. Dealing with the loss of his father – not to mention Bato – and not to mention more than half of their army. The rest had barely escaped with their lives and were now here in the med-camp.
The Coalition would find them soon.
And now, all of these men's lives were counting on him.
"We move as soon as we can. Those more significantly injured take priority. Get them out … we have some reserve Water Nation ships on the other side of the island. Get as many men there as possible. Order a full retreat."
Jee returned his gaze. "Your father gave his life to ensure the rest of us survived. It is only fair that we repay him in kind."
Sokka shook his head. "No … there have been enough losses for today …"
Jee refused Sokka. "With all due respect, our rightful Fire Lord is out there fighting that imposter Lu Ten and Ozai! We can hold the line … make sure that enough of the wounded can have a chance to escape." Jee motioned. Dozens of Imperial Firebenders stood at attention.
"You'll all be killed …"
Qin smiled sadly. "It is time for the Fire Nation to do its part … our men will lay down their lives for the rest."
"The Fire Nation has hurt many people … it is time we step up and help our brethren from the other nations …"
Next to him, several Water Tribers and Earth Kingdom soldiers stood up. General How and the others from the Council of Five agreed. "A quarter of our men are still battle-ready. We will meet the Coalition forces head-on with our brethren from the Fire Nation."
Jee smiled as he and General Fong shook hands. "We appreciate the assist."
"The Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes will have your back, Commander."
Sokka smiled. "Then I will fight alongside you … I will follow my dad's example -."
"You can't!"
Sokka whirled around. Katara was there, arms folded. Her eyes were still watering.
"Katara …"
"No. We just lost Dad today, Sokka. He gave his life … we've given enough. No one else has to -."
"Katara … I'm the acting Chieftain now. These men are now my responsibility!"
"You can't just -."
"As your Chieftain, I order you to retreat with the wounded. That goes for you too, Toph. And Suki."
Toph shook her head. "You can't order me around anymore, Snoozles."
"I just did." Sokka turned to his Water Tribe soldiers. "If any of my friends refuse to retreat – arrest them!"
"You can't do that!" Katara yelled.
Sokka was already walking away, tending to the wounded. "In the meantime, while preparations are made, Yugoda will need your help applying that Spirit Water, Katara."
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Sokka reached a brook a yards throw away from the med-camp and sat down on a boulder. He held his space sword in his lap. His reflection stared back at him.
For a moment, his reflection looked like Hakoda's.
"Dad … I'm not strong enough Dad … why did you have to be a hero … why did you have to leave us …?"
And there, in private, he held his face up to his hands and began to sob …
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Move for move they were identical. Zuko and Azula worked together in unison, jets of red and blue erupting in all directions. They fought side-by-side, jumping to the other one's defense when an attack got too close, helping set the other up for a counterattack.
A powerful strategy.
But their foe was a powerful bender. Having spent the past several years stealing others' Firebending through Energybending, Lu Ten had become one of the most formidable foes they had ever faced.
When Zuko faced Lu Ten in their first Agni Kai, he was simply no match for him.
But Zuko had grown since then. His skills had increased, if only marginally. But Zuko was no longer driven by pride or anger … he was driven by a need to save his friends. And with Azula on his side, fighting with him rather than against him, the two siblings had become quite formidable in their own right.
Lu Ten fought them both evenly. His speed, his energy, it all burst forth effortlessly from his body. White flames surged from his hands and feet as he dueled both cousins.
Up above, on the upper deck, Ozai grinned maliciously. Ursa was held there, forced to watch her two children duel their cousin.
Next to them, Iroh, Seizon, Mai and Ty Lee were still suffering from the poisons in their systems. Guards stood over them, daggers raised to kill if anyone interfered.
Jet stood there, a guard behind him, blade up to his neck. He watched helplessly as Azula struggled with Zuko to keep pace with Lu Ten.
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Lu Ten snuffed out an attack from Zuko, before leaping into the air, bringing his foot down onto the deck. A white line of fire snaked up along the metal hull, superheating the flooring. He spun his legs out from under him, spinning his feet, kicking out embers in all directions. He sprung up onto his feet, holding his hand straight up, palm toward the skies. Endless bursts of flame shot up, and then descended in all directions like an infinite meteor shower.
Zuko and Azula rode along the hull, flames on their feet, zipping left, zipping right, dodging each blast. Azula missed a step and was nearly char-fried.
Lu Ten lowered his hands, his fists balled. He stared at his cousins, panting.
Zuko cocked his head. The last time he had fought Lu Ten, his cousin had seemed to have a never-ending reserve of energy.
But this time seemed different.
And his attacks, as powerful and swift as before, didn't seem to have the hate directed behind them that they once did.
Zuko and Azula formed up. They also were panting, running low on energy.
Zuko pointed a finger. "You have so much power now, Lu Ten … but you haven't used it to end us yet. Why not? Why are you holding back?"
Lu Ten took an angry step forward. "I am holding nothing back! I will see you both roasted down to your very atoms!"
"You have more than enough power to have killed us both a dozen times over! Why have you not used it?"
Above, Ozai raised an eyebrow. "Is this true, Nephew? Are you holding back?"
Eye twitching, Lu Ten gathered energy in his palms. "I'll show you who's holding back!"
Lu Ten stomped forward, fists out. His hands were pulsing with light as he was gathering all of his energy, focusing it into a single point. With a snarl of rage, he thrust his palms out. A beam of pure fire issued from his hands, concentrated into a singularity. It shot off like an arrow, straight at the two siblings.
Azula saw its speed. Zuko would have no time to get out of the way. With a burst of energy, she leaped into the air, kicking Zuko out of the way. The two rolled along the deck, tumbling under each other. They staggered to their feet in amazement.
Lu Ten's blast had shot off from the deck of The Indomitable Phoenix. It shot straight and true, at least several miles from their location. The metal floor of the deck was scorched and hot, smoke steaming upwards.
Lu Ten was panting. "How's that for holding back ...?"
"… but you didn't shoot to kill," Zuko realized.
Lu Ten's eye twitched again.
"Is it because you really don't want to?" Zuko asked.
With a roar, Lu Ten channeled more energy into his fingertips. He jumped backwards, angling his stance, before unleashing an infinite arc of lightning.
Zuko was ready. He lowered his hands, breathed deeply and absorbed the energy into his own fingertips. With a deft move, he redirected the lightning high into the sky.
A bead of sweat dripped down Lu Ten's face.
Zuko drew himself to his full height. He stood next to Azula and they took several slow steps towards their cousin. "You don't have to do this," Zuko said. "You can stop this all right now. We were a family once. We can be again. You. Me. Your Dad. My Mom. Azula. Seizon."
Lu Ten backed away, shaking his head.
"Remember when we were little?" Zuko asked. "Remember our trips to Ember Island with your Dad? He would always bring his own tea and we would have picnics on the shore? We would see the Ember Island Players and you and Uncle would recreate some of the fight scenes? You remember all that, don't you Lu Ten? You remember play-wrestling with your Dad?"
Lu Ten shot a quick glance up at his father at the upper deck. Iroh was still paralyzed, but his eyes … his eyes never left his son.
"We can have that all again," Zuko said. He reached his hand out, pleadingly. "Take my hand, Cousin. Come with us. Help us end this war and set everything right before all is lost!"
Lu Ten's features softened. He stared at his two cousins. He looked back up at his father. Then at Ozai, who sneering.
He returned his gaze to Zuko. "I … I do want that …"
Zuko smiled. ''Then come with us …"
"… but I can never have it …"
Zuko blinked. There was a new tone in Lu Ten's voice that struck him.
For the first time Lu Ten sounded … sad.
"Don't any of you get it by now?" Lu Ten demanded. "Sozin is the one who brought me back to life! Through Energybending, he infused some of his own life into my body! And that means the opposite can happen!"
"He can take it away …" Zuko realized.
"With the snap of his fingers! He holds my life in his hands … so I have to fight you! I don't have a choice!" Lu Ten's eyes were brimming. "I don't have free will anymore …"
Zuko's arms were wide. "Listen to me! Aang is facing Sozin! Right now! It doesn't have to be this way! He can stop him once and for all! And you'll be free …"
Lu Ten faltered.
"Come with us," Zuko repeated.
Azula nodded, joining her brother. "You can truly show your worth, Cousin. Our family places a very high stake on 'honor.' Show us you have it now …"
Lu Ten's fingers flexed. He was trembling. He stared his two cousins in the face and made a step towards them.
Above, Ozai leaned forward, anticipating the boy's next action.
Lu Ten reached his hand out for Zuko's …
… and blasted Zuko away with fire! With a kicking motion, he blasted Azula back with more flame.
"No!" Lu Ten insisted. "I have no hope! I have seen what Sozin is capable of! Whatever powers the Avatar may have … even if he regained the Avatar State … he is no match! He will lose!"
And he launched himself at his two cousins, who stood up, forced to defend themselves once again …
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And above, Ozai laughed. He stared at Ursa sitting next to him, forced to watch the battle. A few chairs down, Iroh, still paralyzed, moaned. He flexed his fingers. Struggling to fight the paralysis … struggling to find the strength to get down there and help his son.
It was no use.
Ozai chortled. "Yes … the boy is an invaluable asset … but an asset only. Nothing more than a puppet to be used … and ultimately discarded."
Ursa stared at her husband. "You are pure evil!"
Ozai laughed. He forced Ursa to hold his hand. "Now … is that any way for a wife to talk to her husband?" And he leaned forward, his soldiers holding her in place, and forced her to kiss him. She gagged.
"You will learn the proper respect, Ursa. Just as Zuko learned. I will teach you."
"I'd rather die," Ursa replied with all the defiance she could muster.
"Then perhaps your wish will be granted today. But first, you will watch our children die …"
And Ursa could only stare helplessly as Lu Ten advanced on her tiring children …
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Southern Air Temple – Night
Lightning arced down upon the parapets of the once great monument.
The ground and the mountains quaked.
The world itself appeared to be tearing apart under the force of the battle.
Aang was in the air, fire on his feet. Sozin raced behind him, flying after him. They weaved in and out of the parapets of the temple. Sozin gracefully alighted at the top spire. Lightning arced from his fingers in all directions.
Aang spun below, landing on a lower balcony. Flames arced from his fist.
Sozin ducked, then flipped from the top of the parapet, landing hard on the ground facing Aang. As he landed, fire issued out of his body.
Aang jumped up onto the ledge, dodging the flames. Sozin tackled him, and they went over the edge.
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Aang's back absolutely seemed to break as he slammed onto the floor of another parapet below them. Sozin landed on top of him, slamming his foot with the force of a sledgehammer into Aang's chest.
Aang screamed, struggling under Sozin's foot. He grabbed at the Fire Lord's leg, writhing from under him. Sozin began pushing with his foot, pushing Aang to the edge of a ledge.
"Come now, Roku. There's more fight left in you than that … "
Aang grit his teeth. "You want more fight, you've got it!" The palm of his hand slapped down on the rock floor. A mound of rock erupted from behind them, striking Sozin between the shoulder blades. Aang rolled out and skittered to his feet.
Sozin regained his balance. "Defiant as ever." Suddenly, the Fire Lord squatted. "How about a taste of my powers … with the energy now coursing through my body, I can generate lightning instantaneously." With a sudden point of his finger, lightning tore from his hands.
Aang's eyes widened. He spun his hands, creating his Air Scooter technique, riding along the walls of the temple.
Sozin fired indiscriminately, lightning arcing in all directions.
Aang propelled himself off the wall, covering his legs in rock, striking Sozin in the chest. The Fire Lord grabbed Aang by the waist, flipping him upside down over his head, slamming him down into the ground. Aang used Earthbending to open a hole in the ground as he slammed down, tunneling beneath his foe. He popped up …
Sozin was gone!
Had he gone underground too?
"Behind you!"
Sozin flew at him from the opposite direction. He delivered a fire-packed punch to Aang's gut. The Avatar doubled over, coughing. Sozin punched him about the face, sending him flying across the courtyard.
Sozin twisted his hands. Water snaked around them like tentacles. Aang grasped at the ground and screamed as a tentacle snaked around his ankle. Aang was lifted twenty feet in the air and slammed headfirst through the wall of one of the temple's towers.
Aang went flying straight though the tower, blasting out from the other side. Aang landed on another balcony. He lifted his head and saw Sozin, surrounded in flames, bursting through the hole in the tower, coming straight at him.
Aang spun around, he lifted his hand. The rocks in the tower rearranged themselves, creating a new wall.
Sozin blasted his way through the wall, landing right before Aang.
"This battle is a disappointment … I had hoped for more from you, Roku."
Aang staggered to his feet. His clothing was torn and his body was covered in bruises and blood. "Don't … give up … hope yet …"
Sozin stared up at the towering spires. "This place … where I first launched my campaign against your people. How fitting that this will be the burial place of the last Airbender!"
Something stirred within Aang. "No …"
"Your people died in blood here at this very place. I showed them no mercy …"
Aang remembered the horrors he endured in Naraka. How we was forced to relive the deaths of his people … relive the death of Monk Gyatso again and again. He had seen how futile their efforts were … how the monks fought bravely to no avail. And the Air Nomad children …
Sozin hadn't even spared the children.
No! He had to stop this! He had to stop this madness now.
And Aang screamed.
"Hmm?!" This got Sozin's attention.
Aang's body glowed and the ground quaked and shook. Energy coursed through his body. Fire at his heels, Aang launched himself straight at his foe.
Sozin took a fighting stance and grinned. "That's more like it, Roku …"
And they instantly clashed.
Lightning blazed into the skies and a thunderclap followed.
And the battle was joined again …
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Woods – Medcamp – Night
Katara exhaled deeply as bolts of lightning tore through the skies, lighting the camp through the trees. It came from the direction of the temple …
"Aang …" she breathed.
She stood up next to a wounded soldier. His groanings had stopped and her spirit water had done the trick. She turned to Yugoda, handing her some more water. "He'll be fine." Without another word, she marched over to Sokka.
Sokka was making preparations to leave. The Mechanist and Teo had arrived at this time. The Mechanist was finishing telling his story to Sokka. "… we're down to two airships … I docked them at the far side of the ocean on the other side of the island …"
"And are the boats ready to leave? Can we evacuate before the Coalition finds us?"
One of the Water Tribers stepped forward. "It's going to be a risk. And we're going to lose many on the way …"
Sokka nodded. You can't save everyone. "Do it. Give the orders." He sheathed his sword and adjusted his armor. "I'll join with Commander Jee and Qin's forces … any able-bodied men … we'll march back out to meet their armies one more time … we'll give the wounded a final chance to escape …"
"Sokka!"
Katara was marching straight for him.
"Not now, Katara."
"Don't give me that! What about Aang?!"
"Katara -."
"He needs us, Sokka! Are you going to abandon him the way you did Dad?"
Sokka knew this accusation was coming. "I didn't abandon Dad. He gave the order … he gave his life to save all of us!"
"And now Aang is doing the same … you can go fight the Coalition in another suicide mission … but I'm joining the fight the fight against Sozin! That's the fight that matters! If we take Sozin down, this all ends!"
"Katara …"
"Where's Appa? I'm leaving on him. I'm going to help Aang. You can come or stay, but don't you try to stop me!"
Toph was sitting on a boulder nearby. She slid off. "Count me in!"
Katara managed a smile. "I knew I could count on you, Toph! Anyone else?!"
"Katara …" Sokka continued.
Haru raised his hand. "I'll help! You guys save me and my Dad from that prison! I owe you a favor."
"Thanks Haru! Anyone else?"
"Katara …."
Suki raised her shield. "Of course you can count on me!"
Katara embraced Suki. "We're leaving …"
"Katara …!" Sokka said with finality.
"What?" she demanded.
Sokka's face become more serious than ever. He slung his space sword over his shoulder. "Count me in … a man knows where he's needed …" He turned. "Commander Jee, Qin … you lead any able-bodied man into battle … slow the Coalition army at all costs … give the wounded a chance to escape … then get out yourselves!"
Jee saluted. "It has been an honor, Chieftain."
Sokka turned. He whistled. Appa trudged out from between several trees. He was covered in armor. He roared.
Sokka turned to the rest of his friends. "Alright … is Team Avatar ready for one last go around?!"
Katara hugged her brother. "Thank you, Sokka … and … I'm sorry for blaming you for Dad …"
Sokka looked into his sister's eyes. His own were brimming. "Let's make him proud …"
Behind them, the Mechanist raised a finger. "You are going to need some help if you are going to the temple … that place is riddled with airships and tanks."
Katara nodded. "To keep Aang boxed in."
"And to keep others out." The Mechanist smiled. "Luckily, two of our airships are still air-worthy. We will provide Appa cover on the trek to the temple."
Katara smiled and embraced the odd man. "Thank you …"
Sokka unsheathed his sword and pointed it to the stars. "Let's end this war once and for all!"
And Team Avatar cheered as they climbed Appa.
One last ride …
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Zuko was blasted backwards, his spine striking the hard iron railing of the deck. He screamed in pain.
Azula charged forward.
Lu Ten sighed. But he fought back nonetheless.
Azula charged, swiping at him left and right with blue flame daggers. Lu Ten danced about, his feet moving gracefully, flawlessly. With a flick of his wrist, he knocked her arm aside. Azula lifted her eyes – her eyes widened as she saw that Lu Ten's hand was aimed at her stomach.
FOOSH!
A white-hot pulse of fire erupted from his palm, searing into her armor, sending her flying.
Zuko was on his feet. He raised both hands, summoning as much energy as he could. Two waves of flame gushed into the air, then coalesced into one giant wave. Zuko landed, his attack arcing out.
Lu Ten sighed, jumping over the blast. He landed on his soles, spinning, countering Zuko's next attacking, throwing the Firebender onto his back.
"Please …" Lu Ten said. "Just stop … just stay down …"
Zuko and Azula slowly staggered to their feet.
"No," Zuko answered. "No matter how often you throw us down, we'll get back up!"
Lu Ten fire-kicked him onto his back.
Shaking, Zuko sat upright, Azula helping him up.
"We'll keep standing, Lu Ten! We'll keep standing because we're not fighting against you! We're fighting for you! Fighting for you to find the courage to stand up against Sozin! To find the brave man we all once knew!"
"He is dead," Lu Ten said. The sadness in his voice was rising. "There is no return for that man …" He extended his arms to his sides. "The husk you see before you is all that is left … just an empty shell."
"You're wrong!" Zuko exclaimed. "He's in there – I can feel it! You have the power to alter your destiny! As I did! As Azula did! You are not a puppet! "
Lu Ten couldn't bear to look at them any longer. "It is too late for me, Cousin."
"It's never too late!"
"I'm very sorry for what I'm going to do … I'm sorry it has to end this way …"
Zuko nodded. "I know …"
And Lu Ten leaped into the air, summoning his energy for a more powerful attack. Zuko and Azula braced themselves. A wall of white flame surged up from the floor of the deck, nearly blinding them.
When it dissipated, Lu Ten was gone.
Zuko and Azula looked around frantically. He couldn't have just vanished.
Lu Ten phased in behind Zuko. As the teenager turned, Lu Ten's flaming fist connected with his face, sending him flying. Lu Ten surged forward, kicking Zuko in the back with a flaming foot. Zuko screamed. He hit the railing headfirst. He spun around.
Lu Ten was there in an instant. His fingers curled around Zuko's throat in an iron grip and he lifted his cousin off his feet. Zuko struggled in his grip. Lu Ten aimed his hand at Zuko's chest.
Above, Ursa screamed. "No – stop this!" She stood up. Ozai's men grabbed her, forcing her into her seat. Ozai grabbed her face, forcing her to watch the spectacle.
Below, Azula was coming fast. Lu Ten turned his head and opened his mouth. Fire erupted from his jaws like a dragon, blasting Azula off her feet.
Lu Ten turned his attention to Zuko. The regret in his voice was genuine. "I'm very sorry, Cousin." And he took aim at Zuko's chest with his hand and blasted him a hundred feet into the air.
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"NOOO!
Ursa could only watch in horror as Zuko's body flew upwards. It paused, suspended in midair for only a second.
And then plunged into the seas with a large splash.
Bubbles issued to the surface …
And then the waters were still …
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.
Lu Ten stared at the ocean sadly. Wiping his eyes, he turned. He still had one opponent left.
Azula braced herself. She could not allow herself to grieve over Zuzu. Not yet. She had to stay focused.
She would have to face Lu Ten alone now … for her very survival …
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Above, Jet watched slowly. His eyes scanned the upper deck for something – anything – that would offer a solution out of this.
That's when he saw it … behind them – the bridge. And an array of catapults and ballistae armaments. That wouldn't help … not yet, anyway …
He continued scanning the upper deck. That was when his eyes met Iroh's. Iroh stared at him.
And then winked.
Jet blinked. Iroh looked away, not trying to gather attention.
Was the paralysis wearing off?
Iroh had winked. That meant that he knew what Jet was thinking. He had to act fast.
With lightning speed, Jet suddenly elbowed his guard in the gut. He grabbed his hooked broadswords which had been taken from him by the guard, slashing out at two other guards. The hooks caught around their necks and Jet spun them over his head, sending them screaming over the railing into the watery abyss below.
Ozai snarled. "What is this?"
Jet flipped over Ozai's head, landing behind where the rest of the prisoners were. With a deft motion, he sliced Iroh's bindings free.
"NO!" Ozai snarled.
Iroh stood up, cracking his neck. "Good work, M'Boy. See to Mai, Ty Lee and Seizon. The Brothers need to talk."
Five Imperial Firebenders spread out around Iroh. "Have any of you ever seen why I am called the 'Dragon of the West?'"
"Enough!" Ozai yelled. "Stop him!"
Iroh opened his mouth wide. Flames ripped out of them, sending the five Imperial Firebenders flying.
Ozai snarled. He reached out and grabbed Ursa, holding her by the neck as Iroh advanced. "Not a step further, Brother." Ozai's hands were already glowing. "Or I'll roast Ursa alive."
"You will not harm her," Iroh said.
"No? Perhaps she needs a lesson in respect similar to Zuko."
"You will not harm her," Iroh repeated with more determination in his voice. "You will not harm anyone ever again."
"And the Avatar once said the same exact thing to me …"
Behind Iroh, Jet had freed Mai, Ty Lee and Seizon. Seizon stared down at the battle below between Azula and Lu Ten. He turned and stared at his mother.
"You are outnumbered, Ozai." Iroh was calm. "Surrender and we will take you in peacefully."
"Nonsense. An entire legion mans this ship. Within moments, you'll be facing an entire battalion of troops."
"They have never faced the likes of us, before."
Ursa, meanwhile, grinned. "Well, Dear Husband … I have a little surprise for you …" She lifted her foot, stomping it hard down on his.
Ozai screeched. "That's it! I'm burning you alive!"
Ursa's foot rose again – backwards. Her heel hit Ozai square in the crotch.
Ozai screeched as he doubled over. Ursa grabbed him by the beard. "Just a little something I should have given you many years ago!" And she grabbed his head by the side and slammed it down onto the railing.
And Ozai was out cold.
Jet, Iroh, Seizon, Mai and Ty Lee stood there, completely amazed.
"What? Never underestimate a good, old-fashioned kick in the privates," Ursa shrugged.
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.
Below, Azula and Lu Ten were engaged in a titanic struggle to the end. They had not noticed the commotion up top.
Lu Ten's fire sent Azula flying across the deck. He was on her in an instant, his foot crushing her chest. He bent down, his fingers encircling her throat. He lifted her up, preparing for an insta-kill move …"
"LU TEN!"
Lu Ten faltered.
Behind him, Iroh was joining him on the lower deck.
Above, Seizon, Mai, Ty Lee, Ursa and Jet were now facing down a new squad of Firebenders.
Iroh was determined. He pointed his finger. "Drop your cousin!"
Shrugging, Lu Ten tossed Azula aside. The Princess forced herself to her knees. Iroh's hand found her chin and he caressed it kindly. "You have fought bravely and well, my Niece. I am so very proud of you. But please … allow me to take it from here …"
"Uncle …" Azula nodded, staggering to her feet.
Iroh took a step towards his son. "If you have to duel someone in order to survive – then duel me!"
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.
.
Up above, Ursa was leading the others in battle against new reinforcements. Masked Firebenders attacked, flames soaring in all directions.
Ursa was greatly enjoying herself, spinning her twin broadswords, sending soldier after soldier flying over the edge of the railing. She was filled with new determination after witnessing what had happened to Zuko. "This is for Zuko!" She blocked an attack from another Firebender.
"This is for Seizon!"
Another soldier flew over the edge.
"This is brainwashing me and making me serve you!"
"This is for burning my son's face and banishing him!"
"This is for making me give away my first-born and not allowing me to see him!"
"This is for turning my daughter into a weapon and forcing her to hurt people!"
"And this one – this one is just because I feel like it!"
And three more Firebenders went over the edge.
Jet turned to Mai and Ty Lee.
Seizon, for the first time, showed actual excitement. "That's my Mom!"
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"Will you strike me down, my Son?"
Lu Ten faltered. "Father …" He grimaced. "I don't have a choice!"
"We can all work together," Iroh admonished. "We can take Sozin down … and you and I … we can be a family again …"
Lu Ten smiled. "I'd like that …" His face fell. "But it can never be …" He jumped into the air, kicking more fire at his father. Iroh bounced back, deflecting the attacks.
Azula watched her uncle in amazement. He was an amazing warrior … and here he was going toe-to-toe with Lu Ten!
But there was more. She couldn't quite sense it … but Lu Ten's resolve was beginning to deteriorate …
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The waves of the ocean lapped.
There was a stirring.
Then …
… a hand shot up out of the abyss and gripped a chain on the side of The Indomitable Phoenix.
Zuko's head popped up, gasping for air. He was heavily injured, his shirt torn. His face was covered in scorch marks and his entire body was riddled with burns, bruises and blood.
He was in so much pain.
But he couldn't give up now!
Mustering up his strength, his inner resolve, Zuko grasped the chain and began the long ascent up the ship's side.
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"What? Done already?"
Aang was lying facedown. His body was bruised and battered nearly beyond recognition. Sozin stood over him, arms folded. "Look at you, Roku. Is it finally beginning to sink in that you never had a chance against me?"
Arms trembling, Aang tried to push himself upright.
THWACK!
Sozin delivered an axe-kick. Aang screamed. Sozin pressed down on the small of his back with his instep, crushing Aang down to the floor. The young monk could feel his spine beginning to feather towards splintering.
"Now this is exactly where you belong, Roku. Face in the dirt. At the feet of a superior Avatar. I have become everything you couldn't be."
He ground his foot into Aang's back. Aang screamed, crying out from the torment.
And then, Sozin's foot was gone. Aang raised his head a little bit.
WHACK!
The instep of Sozin's foot caught Aang about the head. Aang collapsed facedown.
Darn it all! Aang wanted to bang hit fists into the ground. He was too strong! He was just too strong! Aang should never have been so foolish as to gamble the fate of the entire universe on this one fight.
Sozin not only had the Patron Spirits empowering him. He didn't just have a connection to the Spirit World now. Sozin had spent the better part of a century preparing for this battle. Using Energybending to steal bending from victim after victim, increasing his powers a hundredfold. No, a thousandfold. He should have remembered what Sozin was capable of when he saw him in action at the Eastern Air Temple …
And what had Aang done? He had spent the last year going on adventures. Doing everything he could to avoid or delay the final battle with the Fire Lord, choosing fun and adventures every other way. He had only barely mastered the Four Elements. And even though he had regained his connection to the Avatar Spirit, he had been ill-prepared.
He was a dust mote in a wind storm, an ant before a dinosaur.
And Sozin knew it.
And Sozin would rub it in.
"You should have joined me, Roku. But if you wish to ask for forgiveness, then by all means, do so. It won't prolong your life any … but depending on how remorseful you are, I may decide to give you a quick and painless death. So do it. Admit you were wrong a hundred years ago, and I was right. Admit that the Avatar Spirit should have chosen me and not you. And apologize for not siding with me when you knew it was the right thing to do!"
Aang coughed.
Sozin raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you do not know the proper way to apologize? I am not surprised. After all, you never could admit you were wrong, could you Roku? Or any of the Avatars. So consumed with your own self-righteousness and inability to see that the Avatar had become the problem! But you have a chance … a small token of redemption available to you before I end the Avatar Cycle completely."
Sozin's foot was in Aang's face. "Grovel a little. Kiss my feet. And then, I will grant you the mercy of a quick lighting bolt to the heart."
Aang slowly upturned his head. He stared hard at his archenemy. He stared at the man who had murdered his very people, here in this very temple. The man who had instigated the war, plunged the world into a century of violence and bloodshed. He had hurt so many people.
"No …" Aang said weakly. "I won't …"
Sozin laughed. "No ...? Last chance …"
Aang struggled, forcing himself to his feet. His body was beyond exhaustion. "I … will never give in … never give up …"
Sozin shrugged. "Then I guess pain will be the way this ends!" And he kneed Aang in the gut. He grabbed the Avatar by the throat, superheating his hand, burning Aang's neck. Aang screamed in pain. Sozin blasted him across the balcony.
Aang's body skidded to a stop. He forced himself upright again.
"Why do you insist on prolonging this? You battle against inevitability."
Aang drew himself to his full height. He would go down fighting. "I don't … I don't care … how strong you are … I don't care if you're a thousand times stronger … I don't care … if you're a million … I will fight you!"
Summoning his energy, Aang burst at Sozin.
Sighing, the Fire Lord caught Aang in midair with Airbending, before hurling him through the wall of the temple. Aang flew through a library at top speed, his body knocking over bookshelf after bookshelf. He skidded to a stop.
Sozin appeared in the hole formed by his body.
Aang struggled to sit up … every nerve was wracked with pain. He let his head drop.
It's no use … my body is giving out … he's too strong … he's just too strong!
And Sozin lit the room on fire. Aang watched as the flames consumed the library, burning everything in its path. Encircling him.
He choked on the smoke.
He no longer had the strength to even move.
The flames inched closer.
Aang closed his eyes, preparing for the inevitable end.
And all he saw was white as the tendrils of death began to overtake him …
.
"No! You must never give in to despair! Allow yourself down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts!"
.
"In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself …"
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"That is the meaning of inner strength …"
.
The first thing Aang saw was light. It stretched around him from the cosmos of the universe, enveloping him, wrapping itself in its warmth.
Aang stood up.
Shapes took form around him. He looked around. He was in the Southern Air Temple alright … but not as it currently was.
He was in the Air Temple a hundred years ago. It was vibrant with colors and activity.
"Aang … you must not give up …"
Aang looked around. Several Air monks were sitting on cushions. Even the usually angry Monk Pasang appeared concerned for him.
"We are your people! Your heritage! We died a hundred years ago … so that you may live …"
Aang turned. He was surrounded by all of his Air Nomad friends. They were clasping at him, pawing at his clothes.
Even little children.
All victims of the Fire Nation purges.
"Please …" a little boy said. "Don't let our deaths be in vain …"
Aang looked up.
He was now enveloped in darkness.
He heard drumming and singing. When he turned, Guru Pathik was there playing on his drums. "Onion-banana juice?"
"Guru?"
Pathik turned solemn. "You are the spirit of the universe incarnate in a body … you may think you have been outmatched, that the gap in your powers cannot be closed … but you have the power of a thousand generation of Avatars in you … you are stronger than you think, Aang. Stronger than you can imagine."
Aang turned. Thousands of Avatars stood before him. Avatars Roku, Kyoshi, Kuruk and Yangchen were there.
"We are in you, Aang," Roku said. "Our powers, our knowledge is yours! The time has come for you to use it!"
Other spirits swirled around him. The Painted Lady. Hei Bai. Behind them, he could see lines and lines of Air Nomads, stretching beyond the horizon.
"Think of all the people he's hurt," Roku said. "All the innocents gone because of him. Make that your power!"
"Please," the little Air Nomad boy said again. "He killed me … don't let him kill anyone else …"
Monk Pasang leaned forward. "You must never forget – it was Sozin who destroyed our people! And now that you are the Last Airbender, the time has come for you to make him face justice for all he's done! There's no one left … except for you."
"You have the power within you," Roku admonished. "Do all that is within your power to stop him – once and for all!"
And all the figures swirled around him, coalescing … and they all passed through into his body.
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.
.
Aang's eyes blazed open.
He was in a burning library. He sat up. His body still ached. He forced himself to stand against the pain.
His eyes glistened. He was determined. With a sweep of his arms, a gale force wind issued throughout the room, instantly putting out the fires.
"Hmm?" Sozin uncrossed his arms.
Aang catapulted out of the library, striking the Fire Lord square in the chest. Sozin staggered back.
Aang flipped onto his feet, blasting fire at Sozin. Sozin deflected the blasts left, right … he stopped. Aang was gone.
"Where are you?"
"Guess who?!" Aang popped up out of the ground and grabbed Sozin by the beard. Sozin's hand aimed for his head. Aang knocked it away and blasted him through a wall with Airbending. Rubble crumbled down upon him.
With a yell, Sozin shot up out of the debris. A trickle of blood ran down from his lip. He wiped it, staring at the red stain on his thumb. And then he frowned. "He … actually touched me …"
He squatted into a fighting stance as Aang barreled for him once again …
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"Their numbers … they're staggering …"
Sokka sat in the bison's saddle, piloting Appa hundreds of feet in the air. Toph, Suki, Katara and Haru were in the saddle.
Behind them were two airships. One was piloted by the Mechanist and Teo.
Below, the Patola Mountain Range was lined with thousands upon thousands of Fire Nation tanks, all chained to the mountains.
The Mechanist stared ahead solemnly. He remembered that day at the Northern Air Temple, when the Fire Nation had used similar tactics to scale his mountain.
He spoke into a bullhorn. "Airships, coming in!"
In the distance, a dozen airships alighted from the face of the mountains. They were incoming.
"There's too many of them!" Sokka yelled.
"Hold firm," Katara said.
She stared at the temple in the distance. There was another bolt of lightning.
Each second they wasted out here, the less of a chance they'd reach Aang in time.
The Fire Nation airships were on them. Their weaponry opened. And hundreds of balls of fire rose up into the air to greet them.
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"Evasive maneuvers!" Sokka yelled. He twisted Appa's reigns. The bison moaned, twisting his body, dodging a blast.
Below, the tanks took aim, turning their armaments upward.
"We're sitting ducks out here!" Katara yelled.
"This was your idea!" Sokka yelled.
Behind them, the two Resistance airships dodged several flame blasts. The one took a direct hit careened out of control, crashing into the mountain face with a burst of flame.
In his airship, the Mechanist gulped. "Son … I'm sorry to have brought you into all this …"
Teo stared ahead and rubbed his dad's hand. "Dad … it's okay … let's show them what we're made of!"
The Mechanist stared at the incoming enemy. "That we will, M'Boy … that we will …"
Teo raised a fist. "For the Avatar!"
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.
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The wind in the skies was blowing Toph's hair into her face. "Get me closer to one of those tin-cans!"
"Metalbending?" Sokka asked.
"You know it!"
Sokka nodded. "I'll get us in closer to the lead one! Yip-yip!" With a flick of the reigns, Appa took off like a cork, right for the lead airship.
Toph stood up on the saddle. Appa hovered above the airship's deck. "Showtime!"
"I'm coming with you," Katara yelled. The two girls dove from the bison's saddle onto the airship below.
"They're coming in fast, Sokka!" Suki pointed to other airships beginning to circle them. Haru gripped the saddle's side as the blasts came full force.
.
Katara and Toph were instantly met with a squad of Imperial Firebenders. They pointed and unleashed their flame.
Katara dissipated it with a splash of water. "Spread out!" The Firebenders circled them.
"You ready, Sugar Queen?"
"As always!"
And Katara and Toph joined the battle.
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.
.
"They're pulling back!"
Suki was pointing.
The dozen Fire Nation airships were circling back, turning away from Appa and the Mechanist's airship.
Sokka realized too late what was happening. "Katara …"
The eleven airships were headed straight for the airship boarded by Katara and Toph.
Sokka was furious. "They realized our plan … they must've learned after Sozin's Comet that we have a Metalbender! They're going to try to take down Toph!"
Haru pointed. "We have a straight run to the temple …"
Sokka clenched his teeth. His eyes darted between the temple and Katara.
"No."
Pulling the reigns and signaling the Mechanist with his hand, he turned the bison in the direction of the Fire Nation air fleet.
Aang would have to hold on for just a little bit longer …
.
.
.
Katara and Toph had beaten back the Imperial Firebenders. Katara had frozen half of them in place. Toph had trapped the rest in metal bindings.
"Good work, Toph."
"Now … let's take this baby down!" Rubbing her hands, Toph gripped the metal exterior of the hull. As she did, giant shadows fell over them. Katara pointed. "Toph!"
Above, eleven airships had encircled theirs.
And the airships opened fire.
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.
Sokka watched it in slow motion. "No …"
The airship fleet didn't care if it lost one of their own … a small price to pay to rid themselves of a Metalbender that could make mincemeat of them all.
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.
Katara struggled as the airship rocked under the repeated blasts of the other eleven airships. Flames erupted from all around them. Toph backed away from the flames. Katara doused them.
And then, their airship rocked again.
This time, the airship flipped horizontally, listing along the skies helplessly as smoke issued out.
Katara screamed as the ground went out from under her. She grabbed hold of a metal railing. She looked down and gulped. She was hundreds of feet in the air, nothing below her but the mountain ranges hundreds of feet below.
"Katara!"
Toph plummeted past her.
"Toph!"
Katara reached out with a free hand. Toph's fingers were within inches.
And Katara missed.
And Toph plunged past her, a look of horror on her face.
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.
A sudden memory lingered in Katara's mind. A voice from the past.
"Did you know that you could pull water out of thin air?"
Her fingers spasming on the metal railing, Katara reached out with her free hand. She made a slicing motion.
Water, pulled from the hydrogen in the air, crystalized in her hand.
And she flicked her hand like whip. The water in her hand elongated, fashioning itself into a tendril.
Please work …
The water-whip flung out from her hand.
"Toph!"
The whip snaked itself around Toph's arm.
CRUNCH!
Toph screamed.
"My shoulder! It's dislocated!"
Clenching her teeth, Katara began pulling up on the water tendril. It rolled up like a rug, Toph still crying in pain. The tendril pulled Toph a full hundred feet up into the air. And Katara grasped her hand.
Toph's eyes were closed.
"I'm going to pull you up," Katara said.
"I can't see anything … nothing beneath my feet … Katara … I'm scared …"
"I know … me too …"
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.
Above them, the eleven airships opened fire again.
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.
"Katara!"
Toph's fingers were slipping through the Waterbender's.
Katara's hands were bathed in sweat. Toph was slipping again.
BOOM!
The airship rocked again.
Above, Katara's arm was also beginning to dislocate. Her fingers, slacked with sweat, were slipping away from the metal railing …
Another hit to their airship like that and they would be nothing but a simple splat on the face of the mountains …
Time was running out!
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"Faster Appa! Faster!"
"Sokka – how can we clear that blockade of airships?!" Suki asked.
"There's not time to think – Katara's counting on us! Faster Appa!"
Below, the tanks on the mountains were beginning to open fire. They were a sitting duck.
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Inside his airship, the Mechanist pulled levers and doohickeys. He squinted his eyes as he saw the Fire Nation airships bombarding one of their own.
One that listing horizontally.
And dangling from a railing were … two people?
The Mechanist adjusted his lenses. He zoomed in.
Not just two people. Katara and Toph!
He watched as Sokka spurred Appa on.
"They won't make it," Teo realized. He looked up at his Dad. "We can."
"Teo?"
Teo was flicking levers. "We can get there faster than Appa!"
"But we can't break that blockade! We can't get under them to catch them!"
"We don't have to," Teo replied.
The Mechanist stared hard at his son. "Teo … what you're suggesting …"
"Dad … the fate of the world is at stake … did you really think there wouldn't be any losses …?"
The Mechanist stared ahead. Katara was losing her grip. It wouldn't be long now.
Sighing, resolved for what he had to do, the Mechanist yelled into his bullhorn. "Sokka! Be ready!"
And then, the Mechanist pushed a lever, accelerating the airship forward.
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.
Sokka watched as the Mechanist's airship suddenly surged forward. "What is he doing?! He's going to crash into those Fire Nation airships!"
"He knows," Suki replied sadly.
"He can't!" Sokka grabbed his own bullhorn from Appa's saddle. "Mechanist – abort! Abort! Don't do it!
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But the Mechanist was no longer listening. He wasn't even driving anymore. Instead, he was embracing his son. "Be brave, Teo."
"I am, Dad. If I've learned anything, it's that death is not the end."
A tear rolled from the Mechanist's eye, onto Teo's head. "As the Swampbenders said … Death is only an illusion …" He stared hard into Teo's eyes, wanting his son's face to be the very last image he saw. "I love you, Son."
"I love you too, Dad."
"For the Avatar."
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.
The explosion lit the skies like a firecracker.
Sokka had to shield his eyes.
The Mechanist's airship hit the first Fire Nation airship head-on. There was a series of explosions as the first airship clattered into the second. Then the second into the third. It was a domino effect.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
One after another, airship after airship careened into another, creating a devastating array of explosions and flying parts and gears. The Fire Nation airships pinwheeled out of control, spinning, crashing into the sides of the mountains in a series of fiery explosions.
All save one.
The final airship from which Katara and Toph clung.
Determined, Sokka flipped the reigns and Appa lurched forward …
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"Toph … I'm slipping …"
"Katara … it's okay … thank you … thank you for being there for me … thank you for being a friend …"
"Toph …"
"We don't both have to die, Katara. You can make it out of this. Go! Help Aang! And give Sozin a punch from me!"
"Toph -."
"Love 'ya, Sugar Queen."
And with that, Toph released her grip on Katara's hand and allowed herself to plummet away.
The scream tore from Katara's throat. "TOPH!"
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.
.
Toph dropped a whole of two feet onto something fluffy.
"Am … am I dead?"
Suki helped Toph into the saddle as Sokka called out for Katara. "Jump!"
Closing her eyes, Katara released her grip on the railing and landed in the saddle. "How … how did you guys get the Fire Nation off our backs …?"
Suki closed her eyes. "The Mechanist and Teo … they sacrificed their lives to save you …"
And Sokka stared ahead, completely overcome by the loss of his old friends …
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Iroh deflected blast after blast. Lu Ten's face was a mixture of fear and sadness.
"I can sense your attacks weakening … your resolve is faltering, my Son. You know you cannot go through with this …"
"You don't know what Sozin will do to me …"
"He will do nothing. The Avatar will defeat him … and you will be free. Finally. You will be free …"
Lu Ten stopped. "Free …?"
.
Up above, Ozai regained consciousness, blood trickling down his forehead. He stood up and stared down below. "Iroh …?" His older brother was now engaged in combat with Lu Ten.
And by all looks, Iroh was winning!
Ozai looked around at the upper deck. Zuko's little friends were battling his Imperial Firebenders.
Ozai clenched his fists and lit the upper deck on fire. "Enough!"
There was a pause in the fighting on both decks.
Ozai sneered down at Lu Ten. "Nephew! You dare falter?! You dare defy Sozin?"
Lu Ten looked up at Ozai. Then to his father. "I -."
"Finish him! You have the power! Finish Iroh right now or I will ensure Sozin extracts every last ounce of energy from your body and leaves you broken! Just as Iroh left you broken at Ba Sing Se!"
Iroh turned to his son. "I have always regretted that day. Had I known there was a chance, I would have come for you, my Son. Will you forgive me?"
Lu Ten stopped. He was panting. "Father …"
Iroh suddenly kneeled down before his son, his head lowered, neck exposed. "I understand Ozai's orders. If you do not win this battle, Sozin will kill you. So I surrender, my Son. You may finish me off." He looked up. "I give my life, so that you may live …"
Ozai was grinning. "The fool! Do not waste this opportunity, Nephew! Finish him off!"
Lu Ten aimed the palm of his hand at Iroh's head. "I'm sorry, Father."
"I love you, my Son."
Lu Ten's hand trembled. "I love you … Father …"
"Then do it, my Son. But please … make my death quick and painless …"
Azula watched from the sidelines, frozen to the spot.
Lu Ten closed his eyes.
And there was a burst of fire.
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Everyone on the ship stood there and blinked.
The looked down at the lower deck.
Iroh was still kneeling down before Lu Ten.
But Lu Ten's hand was no longer aimed at him.
Instead, Lu Ten had taken aim at the upper deck … at Ozai.
And Ozai was blasted clean off the deck, high into the air. He slammed down on the upper deck's hull, writhing in pain.
Iroh stood up. "Nice shot, my Son."
Lu Ten turned. "I learned from you … Father."
And the next thing Lu Ten knew, Iroh had grabbed him, and drawn him into a tight hug. "My Son … my only Son … I was not able to save you that day … but I was able to save you today …"
Iroh rocked Lu Ten in his arms.
Their tears mixed.
A hand appeared at the railing of the lower deck. "A little help here …"
Azula spun around. "Zuzu?"
Zuko, injured and soaking wet, was hanging on to the railing. Azula grabbed him and took him onboard. She dried him off instantly with Firebending.
Zuko looked at Iroh hugging Lu Ten. "Alright …" he said.
Azula waved him away. "Iroh broke free, Lu Ten turned good, yada yada …"
Zuko walked over to his cousin. He reached out his hand. Instead, Iroh grabbed them both in a group hug, laughing. He looked up at the deck. "Come – there's room for more!"
Laughing, Ursa raced down to the lower deck, dragging Seizon.
Ty Lee was ready to join them. Mai held out a hand. "I don't do hugs."
Below, Ursa, Seizon and Azula both joined into a group hug. Iroh was laughing. They all embraced each other in the warmth of family.
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Up above, Ozai staggered to his feet. His eyes narrowed in revulsion when he saw his family.
"What a sickening display! And do you think this is a victory?!"
The Royal Family broke off their hug and stared at up at Ozai.
Ozai was laughing. "Do you all honestly think that you will all make it through the night? Sozin will come … when he has finished off the Avatar, he will come and he will snuff out the life from each and every one of you."
"Brother …" Iroh stared up at his youngest sibling. "Put away the anger and pride. There is room for you still … justice hangs over your head, but also mercy. Please … come, take hold of that mercy before it is too late …"
Ozai's eye twitched. "What is this?"
"It is never too late for forgiveness brother. The door is wide open. But its hinges are ready to snap shut." Iroh stepped forward, pleading. "Please, Brother. End this madness. Help us rebuild this world and our family …"
From up above, Ozai spat directly into Iroh's face. "That is what I think of you and our family. By the Spirits, how youwere the first-born, heir to the throne … it should have been me! Blast it all, the Spirits should have chosen me!"
"The Spirits will choose whom they choose," Iroh replied. "Such things are not in the hands of mortals."
Ozai was not having it. "You disgust me, Brother. I refuse you! I refuse all of you! You are no longer my family! I disown all of you!"
Ursa stepped forward, eyebrow raised. "Really? Then I suppose you won't mind if I do this?!" Ursa turned, grabbed Iroh by the face, and gave him the biggest kiss of his life.
Zuko, Azula, Lu Ten and Seizon were all aghast and utterly shocked and perplexed.
Ozai snarled. "You dare …?" His eyes fastened on a spear carried by one of his unconscious guards. With a deft motion, Ozai grabbed it, igniting it on fire. He hurled the spear with all his might – right for Ursa's gut.
Ursa broke off the kiss and stood there, rooted to the spot. There was no escaping. No getting away from this.
"NOOO!"
Zuko was already running. He raced for his mother, just as he raced to protect Katara during the Comet. It was all happening in slow motion.
But he wouldn't bridge the gap in time.
No!
This couldn't happen! He couldn't just lose his mother after just finding her again!
It wasn't fair!
And Zuko screamed in frustration.
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A brown blur raced past Zuko. It dove in front of Ursa with all its might.
THUNK!
The spear had found its mark.
But not Ursa.
Seizon had dived between his mother and flaming spear.
And now, he stood there, his toes pointed at each other, the spear embedded deep in his stomach.
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And Iroh launched blast after blast at Ozai. Ozai snarled. He whirled his red Fire Nation cloak and a vortex of flame ascended where he stood. When it dissipated, Ozai was gone.
The coward had fled.
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Ursa had laid Seizon down on his back. His breathing was shallow and ragged. Zuko, Lu Ten, Azula, Iroh and Ursa were at his side.
Jet, Mai and Ty Lee stood off to the side, watching sadly.
Zuko grabbed at the wooden handle of the spear. Seizon's hand stopped him. "Leave it … it's in too deep …"
"Seizon …"
Seizon looked up into the eyes of each of his family members. "Don't cry for me," he breathed.
"We only just got to know you," Zuko lamented.
Ursa was cradling his head, rocking it in her lap. "My baby boy … I only saw you once as a baby … please, don't leave me again …"
"I'm not, Mother. I will always be with all of you …" He forced a smile. "This … of all the things I could have ever wanted … it was this …"
Ursa's crying grew.
Seizon stared into Zuko's eyes. "I never wanted to rule … I never desired power or politics …" He weakly gestured with his hand. "All I ever wanted … was a family …"
"Don't leave us!" Ursa cried.
"And now … I have one …"
Zuko placed his hand on Seizon's shoulder. "Don't give up!"
Seizon's trembling hand found Zuko's. "No. Don't you give up … Thank you … thank you all … for being my family …
Seizon's chest began to convulse … and then there was a final sigh. His chest stopped moving. His hand went limp.
A cold wind blew over the hull of the ship, carrying with it Seizon's soul to realms unknown …
Southern Air Temple – Night
"You'll never understand! My friends are out there! My friends are out there dying for me!"
Aang and Sozin were involved in a pure slugfest. Both of them had been pushed to their limits. Their fists and feet moved nonstop, punching, kicking, dodging.
Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Air.
All four elements were strewn about.
Sozin flew full-force, kneeing Aang in the gut. Aang countered with a punch in the face. Snarling, Sozin grabbed Aang by the throat, pummeling like a sledgehammer through a wall. The stone crumbled as Aang flew. He skittered to the center of the room and realized … he was in the Air Sanctuary.
Sozin burst into the Sanctuary after him.
The two circled, surrounded by a maze of statues. Statutes of every Avatar who had ever lived.
"The Avatars …" Sozin mused. "What a joke they all are!" He punched the face clean off the Roku statue.
Aang rolled out from behind another statue, blasting Sozin with Airbending. With a wave of his hand, Sozin diffused the attack.
Sozin raised his hand. The statue of Avatar Kyoshi levitated in the air. With a throwing motion, the statue flew at Aang's head, nearly taking it off. Aang ducked and the statue smashed to pieces against a wall.
Sozin turned, raising his arms. The statues of Avatar Kuruk and Yangchen rose off the ground and hurtled at Aang full force. Aang twisted in mid-air, squeezing through the statues. They smashed into a far wall.
"I tire of this game, Roku." Sozin lifted more statues with Earthbending, hurling them at Aang one by one. "You have been a thorn in my side from the very beginning."
He blasted Aang with lightning, before throwing three more statues. Aang twisted, barely dodging them.
"You are an insignificant speck beneath my notice."
More statues flew at Aang.
More lightning.
Aang rolled out of the way, fighting for his very life.
"I have surpassed you in every way and achieved what you never could!"
Aang ducked as another statue flew at him.
"I have united the world under the Coalition! I have brought true world peace!"
"No," Aang said. "You've brought nothing but tyranny and oppression! The world is united, but not by love or compassion! They're united by fear! Fear of you!"
"Love and compassion could not help the world! It could not end the wars or world hunger! But I have."
"It won't last – it can't! Your model isn't sustainable. In a few years, your whole Coalition will have imploded in on itself!"
Sozin stood there in amazement as Aang dodged each attack of his onslaught. "What makes you so special! Why did the Avatar Spirit choose you and not me?!"
Aang spun his hands. "The Avatar Spirit doesn't choose just based on raw power! It has other criteria! It chooses based on the quality of a person's spirit!" Aang chuckled. "Yours must've been pretty repulsive to it!"
"Enough! I'm ending this now!"
Sozin charged.
With a hard motion, Aang surrounded himself in a ball of earth.
Sozin landed and began tearing through Aang's ball with Earthbending.
Aang popped up, blowing Sozin across the room with Airbending. Sozin flipped in midair and landed in the center of the Sanctuary. He charged again.
The fight had become an all-out brawl. The two punched and kicked and dodged, circling throughout the room. Sozin backed Aang up to a wall. His fist came like a sledgehammer. Aang ducked, Sozin's fist punching through it.
Aang Earthbended his way through the wall, back to the outside. Sozin was there instantly, their fight back out under the night sky.
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Outside, Appa alighted at the entrance of the Southern Air Temple. "Come on!" Katara yelled. "I can only hope we're not too late." She, Toph and Sokka took off. Sokka turned to Suki and Haru. "Keep an eye on Appa!"
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Aang blocked another blow, ducking under Sozin's attack. He countered, delivering a devastating blow to Sozin's chin. The Fire Lord countered with more flame.
Aang snuffed it out with Airbending.
"Aang! Aang?!"
Aang stiffened. "Katara?" What the heck is she doing here?
A sly grin morphed on Sozin's face. "Ah … your friends … I should have known they could not keep away …"
Aang raced to the balcony. He began calling out to the night. "Katara! No! Don't! Stay away! Get far away from here!"
Water tendrils snaked around Aang's neck. Sozin pulled, gagging Aang, choking him.
"No … let them come …"
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"I can sense them! They're up there!" Toph was pointing. She stomped her foot and a platform of earth shut up under them, acting as an elevator, leading them to the upper balcony.
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Aang struggled in the water tendril. Sozin pulled on it with one hand, choking nearly to unconsciousness. With his other hand, he summoned energy for lightning. "When your little friends come … they'll be met with a nice firework display …"
"Please …" Aang wheezed. "Leave them out of this …"
"They're the ones who decided to get involved! So now they'll face the consequences …"
"No!"
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Toph levitated the platform of earth up the scale of the temple. They reached the balcony where Aang and Sozin were.
Only to see Sozin's grinning face, followed by a blast of lightning.
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Aang could only watch in horror as the platform holding up his three friends was absolutely disintegrated.
He could see the look of horror on their faces.
And they plummeted down the sides of the temple.
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"A price must be paid …" Sozin mocked.
But Aang wasn't laughing.
His body stiffened.
A sphere of air surrounded him. His tattoos glowed. White light bubbled out of his eyes and mouth.
Sozin sneered, laughing. He had triggered the Avatar State.
Good. Now to the kill the boy and end the Avatar Cycle for good!
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Aang, in the Avatar State, catapulted right from the balcony. He dove down the side of the temple like a professional diver, dodging falling debris and wreckage.
He could see Sokka and Toph. Spinning his hands, mounds of soft dirt sprung out from the mountainside. Sokk and Toph landed safely. They watched as the Avatar dove past.
Katara was still plummeting, her hand outstretched, screaming for Aang.
Summoning all of his energy, Aang arced vertically. He reached out, wrapping his arm around Katara's waist. He pulled out a platform of earth from the side of the mountain, alighting slowly with her via Airbending.
Katara caressed his cheek. "Aang … you saved me …"
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ZRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK!
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There was a flash of lightning. Aang's body stiffened.
Katara screamed.
"NOOO!"
She scattered to her feet as Aang fell forward. The light in his eyes went out. The glowing faded.
And smoke issued from his back.
He fell face forward on the ground.
Katara kneeled next to him. She applied her Spirit Water. "Aang! Come back Aang!"
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Up above, Sozin stood on top of a balcony, smoke rising from his index and middle finger. "This time … there'll be nocoming back!"
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Katara continued to shake the young monk. "Aang! Aang!"
It was no avail.
The Spirit Water would be useless here.
It was finally over.
Aang … was dead …
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