Ozai could survive lightning and a glowing destructive kid. What he couldn't do was comforting a crying boy. His daughter didn't cry in front of him and when Zuko did Ozai was often the reason. But if he wanted to use the avatar he had to try. "Don't worry, they didn't suffer too much. Death by fire is painful only until the nerves are incinerated". At that he cried harder. Oh no, the brat hugged him and buried his face in his clothes! Did he want to be hugged back?! Seriously? The kid was like eleven or twelve. Adults never hugged Ozai when he was younger, not even his parents, and he became brave and strong. Iroh had always received affection and became a silly old man. 'Lu tEn dIeD I'm sO sAd'.
Sigh, fine. He stiffly caressed the kid's bald head. It felt like torture, but manipulation was a slow and gradual process.
Worst mistake ever made since Zuko! They stayed like that for at least ten minutes, the avatar was still sobbing and he couldn't feel his hand anymore.
"See, this is why the Fire Nation needs to be stopped, they destroyed your home. They almost killed every southern waterbender. They almost conquered the world. They brought pain and suffering to a lot of people, they are evil" said Ozai. Aang wiped away his tears "I-if there are people like you it means that there is still good in it. They aren't evil, just misguided. I will save the world, Fire Nation included". Great, the avatar was one of those nauseating pure hearted fools.
Meanwhile in a secret location
Princess Azula was able to gather five of the best bounty hunters in the world. June, the most famous between them, Bo, a lavabender, Ataksak, a non-bender from the northern water tribe, she escaped from home and became the only swordmaster that could rival Piandao, Marcello, a shapeshifting spirit banished from the spirit world, and himself, Lord Explosion Murder. It wasn't his real name, he read that name in a book and decided to use it. He was tall and intimidating, but he wasn't tough. He was really shy and he was scared of talking to other people. The reason he stopped talking and started killing was that with less people on the planet the risk of social interactions would decrease.
The princess started to speak. "I gathered you here because you are the best at what you do. My father, Ozai, is traveling with the avatar. You must find them and kill Ozai. I would do it myself but the Fire Lord might suspect something. Don't hurt the avatar. If you fail to keep this a secret I'll hunt you down. Fire Lord Zuko can't know that father has returned".
Meanwhile in the spirit world
An unusual sight could be seen in the spirit world. Koh the Face Stealer was running away from a human. He was running as fast as he could. He never felt so much fear, he never felt fear in general. Fear was something he loved seeing on his victims' faces, but feeling it was horrible. The human wasn't even walking, he seemed still, but every time Koh looked behind to see if he was safe the human was closer. And so Koh decided to never look back again, but when he arrived in his lair the human was in front of him. "Koh Koh Koh, did you really think you could pick up a fight with me? I will make you feel what's like feeling a part of yourself being torn off". All the faces Koh stole seemed to scream in unison.
Back at the temple
"No, we can't go to Kyoshi island" said Ozai. "Why?" "I kind of killed their sacred giant sea serpent (and zapped the chief of the village but I can't tell you that)".
