AN: hi, it's me from the future. I edited this chapter, which took forever bc the document had automatically deleted and doesn't let you copy and paste. Anyway, I had a big plot whole or maybe the opposite of a whole. I revealed the same infermatiom twice, so I took a part out. I hope it still reeds well xx.
I hade to screenshot it and copy it with the iPhone image to text or whatever so i apologize for any typos of mistakes.
BOOK TWO: WATER
CHAPTER 10: TRUST PART 1
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Trust is for fools
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Something started building in her chest, a mix of all the fear, worry, anger, and hatred. It started small but grew as it floated upwards. It lodged in her throat, and Azula began opening her mouth, begging to let it out. And, she did. She screamed, a scream so loud and high the windows and glasses broke. A scream that sent fear coursing through every man and woman in the room. But it wasn't them who should be afraid, it was Ozia. He was the one who did this to her, and he was the one who would pay.
"Get off me!" She wailed, thrashing in her fathers arms. However, his hold on her did not waver, and in the end she was only diminishing her limited energy. "Please, let me go." She sobbed in her fathersarms, the man who had done this to her. The man who had been supposed to protect her from this such thing. Her kicking and thrashing decreased as she lay in her fathers arms, accepting of her fate. She didn't care any more, why should she. So she just lay there, her silent sobs the only sound filling the room.
This lasted for ten minutes, until the lead physician spoke up. "My lord, if we may speak to the princess privately, we have options to discuss with her." He said, bowing his head as he addressed his firelord.
Ozia looked at the man suspiciously. He knew exactly what options this man spoke of, and his daughter would not be partaking in any. This was the reason he had even started using her in such a way, to breed the most powerful firebender the world would see. She was the only one worthy of him, being that she was molded in his image. But, he couldn't very well tell the physician that, for word, it would surely get around and it could possibly start a civil war. For a firelord to treat his prized child in such a way, it was unthinkable. So, instead he went with a different angle. "You have just told me my daughter has been raped, yet you expect me to leave her alone with you, the firelord growled.
The physician nodded, as a father himself he would feel the same way. But it was still very important that he tell the young girl her
options and what to expect were she to deliver the child. It was not accustomed to do with the child's parents present, however this was his firelord. So, after dismissing all his men and women, he sat down. The firelord took a seat across from him, his daughter still crying in his arms. "As you know, there are two options when it
comes to what to do with the child. You, princess, are able to choose which one you want to." he said, trying to make the poor girl feel some sense of control. He looked at her pittifly, feeling sorrow for the girl. Even as despicable as she was, seeing her like this, it made something in him break. No one should have to go through this. "We
can either abort the child, killing it in the womb, or proceed with the birth." He said, setting his gaze on the young girl.
The choice was an obvious one, why was it even a question. No way in hell was she giving birth to her fathers child. Agni, she was her fathers child. His daughter, his pride, his prodigy. But, before she could speak up her father did. "We are not killing a child of royal blood." He viciously yelled at the physician.
The man looked from the father to the daughter, face constricted in fear and sadness. Something was wrong, no man in their right mind would want his daughter, a child nonetheless, to bear the child of her rapist. That was unheard of. If this happened to his daughter, not only would he kill the child, he would kill the man himself. He saw the princess shaking her head, tears streaming from her eyes.
"No, I want it gone," she said, her eyes pleadingly looking at the physician. The man looked back to hers, her wide gold eyes begging him. And he nodded, reaching into his coat pocket for a vile.
"You will do no such thing Lao," the firelord commanded of his chief medical officer. The man was truly an asset, however were he to
disobey him he could find another to replace him. The physician looked from the firelord to his daughter's fearful eyes, and shook his
head. He placed the vile back in his pocket, for he couldn't disobey his lord.
"'No," Azula hissed. She was no longer tired, that was replaced by desperation. "Give it to me," She screamed as she clawed, trying to escape her fathers grip. Ozia however, didn't loosen his grip. And Azula didn't stop fighting. She kicked and screamed, flailing helplessly in her fathers arms while the physician watched in horror. It wasn't long before the royal guards came in to see what all the fuss was about.
As they opened the door they saw the child of the firelord, eyes puffy with tears, kicking and screaming in her fathers arms. However, their lord, though slightly annoyed, was simply holding her there. The guards stood there, unsure of what to do. Eventually however Ozia
became tired of the girl's antics and growled at her. "Azula stop this madness." He hissed loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I'm trying to help you don't you see." He lied. The only person
he cared enough to help was himself.
However, Azula wouldn't stop, not until she got that vile. "If you really wanted to help you wouldn't have done this to me in the first place, she screamed, thrashing in his arms.
The quards stared at the girl, unaware of what was taking place. However the meaning of the words were not lost on the physician. As soon as it hit him, his eyes widened and his heart wrenched from his chest. Ozia noticed the reaction and knew this man had figured
out by now what happened, but it was his words against the firelords, so he could deal with that later. Right now he had to deal with the girl thrashing in his arms. Azula managed to snake her way from his grip and jumped towards the physician. As she reached him he readily handed her the vile, hands shaking. He knew what he was doing would result in his death, but he didn't care right now. All he cared about was the girl.
Azula's hands fumbled at the lid, trying to undo it before her father reached her. However, what poor luck she had. The man swiped the vile from her hand and grabbed his daughter. Azula watched in slow motion as the vile fell to the floor. She saw the tremor sent through the liquid as it hit. The glass breaking slowly, one piece at a time. She saw her escape reduced to a petty puddle on the ground, and she screamed.
Though her mind would later block this from her mind, this was the first time she truly entered the Avatar state. The first time she allowed the white light to burn in her eyes, the first time she allowed the collective mind, far greater than her own, take her over. Only none of them was truly in control. The only thing in control was her rage. Her hands rose, engulfing the room in her blue flames. Only these ones weren't azure as hers normally were, they were a lighter blew, the color of diamond. The engulfed everything they touched, and her furry breathed life into them. The imperial firebenders stared wide eyed at Ozia daughter as she looked at them.
Traitors, her mind yelled. Kill them all! And, she did. With a raise of her hand, every one of them engulfed in her flames. It took little time before they were reduced to nothing but ash and the smell of burnt flesh. Their screams gone with the flames that had eaten them.
Her head then turned to her father, her glowing eyes narrowing on him. She saw a smile form on his serpentine lips, one that sent fear down her very being. She lifted her arm, summoning lightning to form in her hand in the shape of a bolt. She raised it higher, aiming to strike at her almost motionless father. But she halted. What was she doing? Killing her father, the firelord? She would be executed for such a thing. The energy dissipated into the air around her, the strength leaving her body as the light left her eyes. And she could feel herself falling. Crashing to the ground. She winced, only to find herself being supported by a strong pair of arms.
Azula looked up at her father, a single tear streaming down her eye. The last thing she heard before she went to sleep would haunt the girl for years to come.
My little angel.
Mai and Ty Lee were sitting by their friends' unresponsive body. However, indicating she was still alive was the glowing of her eyes. Mai wondered what exactly was happening to her friend right now, what she was experiencing. She sighed, brushing the thought from her head. Her eyes were puffy and sore from crying, something she hadn't thought herself capable
of. However, she had, and she didn't even feel embarrassed or bad. All she felt was numb. Not the normal numbness she felt, something that ran much deeper. Her friend had been
raped, by her father nonetheless. How handt she known, how had she allowed this to take place. She looked to Ty Lee, searching her eyes for answers to her unvoiced questions.
"Azula didn't tell anyone during the two years, I only knew because after it happened she would show up at my door, bruised and burnt." Ty Lee said as she sniffled back tears. She
hated recalling those years, if brought back to much pain.
Mai looked at Ty Lee, two years! It happened for two years. She bit the inside of her lip, holding back the tears that threatened to release without her permission.
I didn't know what it meant at the beginning, and when I did, while I couldn't really talk to her about it. She was numb, it was like she wasn't all there during that time." Ty Lee said,
remembering the look on her friends face.
Mai nodded, she remembered those years. Everyone thought it was strange how the young princess reacted to her brother's banishment, thinking she wasn't fond of him. However,
her reaction had nothing to do with his banishment.
"Then one day, it stopped, and our Azula returned Ty Lee paused, looking down into her friend's eyes. "Only she didn't remember any of it, so I didn't bring it up. It was like her mind
blocked out that whole experience from her, maybe to save her the pain.
Once again Mai nodded. It was common for victims of such things to block out the experience entirely.
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Look Aag, I feel bad for her, but she's clearly unstable. What's to stop her from running back to her father." Sokka pointed out at the young monk angrily.
They were having an argument about what to do with Azula, who still hadn't woken up. Of course Aang and Katara wanted to trust her, but after what Sokka had seen, he couldn't. Something was seriously wrong with her. I mean, trying to kill her brother. Sokka had pissed Katara off a ton and she never tried that. Katara, the same Katara who had shown just how powerful her waterbending could be. The same girl who could control the bodies of other people. Sokka shivered at the memory.
"You're right, maybe she is a little unhinged, considering you left her with Ozia for years." Katara screamed angrily at the princes. She really couldn't believe how this old man could just
stand there, pretending he knew so damn much. He was a selfish, fat, lazy pig, she thought angrily. She rose from her chair and left to the cellar without a word. They could talk about
this without her, her mind was made up.
Aang watched her go sadly, eyes hanging on the spot she had disappeared from before looking back to Iroh. He didn't know what to do, he knew Azula was in pain but from what he just saw, she truly wasn't stable. That seemed to be something everyone could agree on. So, he turned to the only person at the table he trusted. "What do you think we should do Iroh?"
Iroh set the cup of tea he was sipping down, looking into the eyes of the young Avatar. He could see the look in his eyes, the boy was pleading with him, begging him to tell him what to do. Iroh sighed. "Azula is a mirror of Ozia, I doubt she is joining you without playing a different angle. What I saw last night was terrifying, to think she would kill her brother. She has tried before but, whatever decision you make, she is crazy and she needs to go down."
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Katara angrily barged open the door to the cellar, panting as she whipped her mouth. As she walked through the threshold she was greeted with the cold, emotionless stare of Mai. she looked down to see Ty Lee whipping a cold cloth to Azula's forehead. Katara moved closer to the body of her friend, noticing the way Mai tensed ever so slightly. She sighed, if she was in the girl's position she would too.
"I can help you with that," she said as she bent down to be level with the acrobat. Ty Lee looked up, her grey eyes meeting Katara's blue ones, and she smiled. Shocked, Katara smiled back. She hadn't really had time to get close to the acrobat, but she did hold an amount of respect for her. Afterall she was the one that was stuck by Azula no matter what.
I know Azula may not have told you this," Katara began speaking as she bent the sweat from Azula's forehead. "But, she is really grateful for you guys, especially you Ty Lee. You were there for her no matter what, when her mother and uncle left. And when her father began abusing her, you were the one she went to. I know she doesnt show it, but she really does appreciate it." Katara said as she finished tending to the acrobat.
Ty Lee nodded, a tear running down her cheek. "She does have a weird way of showing it,;" she said as she whipped her nose, sniffling.
"It is Azula, '' Mai said, to which all the girls chuckled. Mai looked down into the golden eyes of her friend. "I only wish I knew, maybe I could have helped her too." She said sadly.
"I don't think Azula really likes talking about anything she deems weak. I think the first person she told was Katara. And, I'm going to be honest I got jealous because I felt like she was choosing you, someone we just met, over me." Tylee started and paused, sniffling a little. "But I realize she told you because she didn't feel like she needed to appear strong in front of you. I'm just sad I made her feel like she needed to fake it with me." Ty Lee said as she began crying again.
Unable to take it anymore, Katara pulled the acrobat in for a hug. The girl squealed slightly but after a few seconds began nuzzling into Katara's hair. Katara looked at Mai and narrowed her eyes. Mai sighed, moving herself around Azula to join in the embrace. The three girls hugged, two of them crying and the other one doing their best to sooth. This was the sight Aang walked in on.
"Guys;" Aang said, clearing his throat for the girls. Katara looked up at him, eyes narrowing like the other three girls. Without a word muttered between them, they moved to Azula, all blocking his path to her. They stood up, staring at the young avatar.
"What do you want Aang,' Katara asked bitterly. She saw the look in his eyes, he didn't trust Azula. Not even with the avatars telling him to. She shifted, her posture loosening and her legs falling into stance. The other girls followed her lead, Mai pulling her knives from her pouch. Behind Aang, four more people emerged from the doorway. These people Katara did not recognize, however by their uniforms she knew they must be Di Lee. The water in Kataras the pouch flew to her hand, coating it in a fist.
Aang stared puzzled at her. "What are you doing Katara?" he asked, his voice filled with betrayal.
However, Katara's voice came out as cold as ice. "That depends on you."
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Azula lay in her room, covered in blankets yet still awake. She stared blankly at the ceiling, noticing every intricate design on the wood. The way the grain made them all the more prominent. She wondered if this was what was to become of her, the disgraced princess. Word had spread through the capital that she was pregnant, that she had taken a lover. It had been a month since she had found out, and since then all her needs were met. Every day her father would come in twice r=or more, checking on her. She was forbidden to train or do anything that would cause physical exertion. However, there was one good thing, her father hadn't touched her in a cruel way since finding out. Perhaps this was how she did it, this was how she made him proud.
Azula's thoughts were interrupted by the door opening, but she didn't care. Why would she, it was probably just some made to see if she was still in her chambers. She just continued tracing the intricate grain of wood, the weaving patterns, the brushstroke of the paintings on her walls. Perhaps in another life she could be an artist she wondered. Making lovely art they would hang in the rooms of royals. Maybe even decorating caskets. She wondered what her funeral would be like, would people mourn? Probably not, no one ever did care. While, not no one. Maybe Ty Lee. her thoughts wandered to the acrobat. She was truly the only reason Azula was still alive. She had contemplated ending it more than a dozen times, however whenever she did she thought of the acrobat, the look of sadness on her face. She could never do that to her friend.
Her thoughts were cut off abruptly as she noticed a shadow moving closer to her. An assassin, her mind deduced instantly. Why not now? It was the best time, she was weak. Helpless. The shadow drew closer with every breath Azula took until the figure reached her bed. In less than a second Azula found herself crawling from her bed, desperately trying to reach the guards. Anyone. She screamed out, but was cut short when a blast of wind hit her. Azula rolled over, falling into the wall with a thud. She looked back at the mysterious person, only they weren't mysterious. It was Ty Lee's grandmother. Over the past two years, the women had practically become family.
"What in the name of agni," Azula didn't have time to finish that sentence when another blast of wind hit her. She gasped, trying to regain her breath. She felt a stab of pain and her arm fell asleep, followed by her other limbs. Chi blocking, she registered, a trick Ty Lee used. Azula looked back to the women, eyes pleading desperately.
"I do this for your own good child," she said before burying the knife in Azula.
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Azula's eyes blinked open to a bright, pink light filtering through her lashes. She was aware of lying on something soft, it felt like fur of some sort. She reached her hands underneath her, pushing herself to a sitting position. When her eyes were fully adjusted to the light, she gasped.
What she saw truly took away her breath. It was amazingly beautiful. She was sitting on a hill covered in what seemed to be furr. Around the hill was an endless forest of trees, beautiful, colorful trees. They were all shades of blue, stretching endlessly like an ocean. The sky was a shade of beautiful reds and pinks, strange creatures swirling through the clouds. Enchanted, Azula rose to her feet, her eyes scanning the endlessly colorful canvas. She was so enhanced by it that she didn't sense the presence of someone behind her.
'Do you know why I brought you here?" a voice spoke from behind her. Fear snaked itself up Azula's spin, shooting it's venom through her veins. But, biting her lip, she turned to face her father. Only, it wasn't her father, but his form with glowing red eyes and tentacle-like hair. Something about this calmed her, and her fear eased as she faced the spirit.
"Vaatu," the name left her lips effortlessly. She knew who he was, well, sort of. She knew he was the spirit of darkness and chaos, the spirit that thrived off evil. And, somehow he was
here with her. "What do you want with me?"She hissed at him, giving away the frustration that boiled under her surface.
A maniacal laugh erupted from the being, and the fear found her once again. Even when the spirit stopped, it's face was left twisted in amusement. "Child, I did not bring you here to discuss me, I brought you here to discuss you. He began walking closer to the princess, a snake stalking its prey. Fear shot through the princess, but she didn't move. She wouldn't allow it to show. You fascinate me, having gone through so much at the hands of your family, yet still a part of you wishes to keep them alive."
He began to circle her, examining her porcelain mask of uninterest, a mask she had adopted from her father. "The ship, the palace, the tea shop. All three times you refrained from killing them, even for the state you were in. i have not known any avatar to have such control over the avatar state with all their chakras blocked."
Azula bit her lip, and took slow breaths, attempting to control the frantic beating in her chest. She didn't understand what he was saying, she had almost killed them all those times. And she would have if it weren't for... her. It clicked in her brain, somehow, she had been able to see through all the chaos and anger, to see this wasn't the path. Killing her father would mean being imprisoned, and his war ministers, who were frankly more power hungry than him, would rule the nation. Killing her brother, her weak pathetic brother, would mean killing the last thing she had of her mother, who she wouldn't admit to missing. She sighed, drawing her lip in between her teeth and chewing the flesh subconsciously. Quite frankly, her brother and uncle didn't deserve to die, she had just been so angry. Her brother was banished and her uncle left her for him, just like her mother. Azula's porcelain mask broke, shattering on the ground around her to reveal a scowl.
"What's your point Vaatu? She bit out harshly.
"My point," he began, taking a lock of her hair in between his two fingers. He then looked back to her face, his face a reflection of her scow!. "Is that they don't deserve it. Even after everything you did for them, they still betrayed you.
Her eyes widened, what did he mean, what did they do? Seeing this, he smiled. " They convinced your friends you could not be trusted, and now the avatar is on his way to you with 4di lee soldiers."
Azula's eyes widened. No, "Aang wouldn't." she said, voicing the last part aloud. The grin on her not fathers face spread further. "Oh but he did, and he gets closer as we speak. Azula started panicking, he wouldn't right? Of course he wouldn't! He had known who she was and still stood by her, what could change his mind. Then, it became clear. Iroh, that oldtraitorous man. Maybe she should have ended him, she thought insenserilly. She blinked, gathering her thoughts. If he hadn't gotten to her yet, that meant there was a chance. Achance for what, it didn't matter. All that did was that there was a chance. Azula turned her focus back to the spirit in her fathers face. "I need to stop him."
Vaatu smiled as his plan began to take form. "By all means Avatar" he said, standing back and waiting for her to leave
Azula closed her eyes, focusing on the beating of her heart. Focusing on her limbs, her body, and she called her mind back to it. It was what she had read worked in the halls of the
great spirit library. She could feel her soul lift from the grounds, being pulled by an invisible force back to herself.
Only, it stopped. Azula opened her eyes, and looked around. She saw the same hills, the same trees, the same sky. "What did you do?" she hissed angrily at the spirit.
His face contorted in a look she had never seen on her fathers, confusion. "I didn't -* His sentence was cut off as he turned to face something behind Azula. His voice became angry and the name tasted like poison on his lips. "Raava."
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Aang stared at Katara's water engulfed fists and shook his head. "Look Katara, whatever you think you know about her is a lie, Azula always lies," Aang said, angry to see her stand beside that girl against her own friends, her family.
Katara shook her head, and Mai let out a sigh. "Let me guess, Zuko told you that." she said more than asked. "I'm sure he told you many other things as well. Well news flash Aang, Zuko never really liked his sister."
Aang shook his head. "No, Iroh did. And no matter his past sins, I trust him.'
Oh but you don't trust Azula even after the avatars told you too," Katara snapped back at him.
"No, she takes completely after her father. I don't care what the avatars said, they weren't related to her." He said back, desperately trying to remain his cool. Peace and harmony, peace and harmony, he kept repeating over in his head.
"No you're right Aang, they weren't related to her. They were her!" Katara shot back, her voice raised to a yell. The di lee looked at the young avatar confused.
"Oh let me quess, you failed to mention that she was the avatar and you were just some stupid boy who got stuck in ice." Mai said bitterly. The four Dia Lee agents gave Aang bewildered glances, but he didn't notice.
He was too busy thinking about what Mai had said. He wasn't the avatar, just some boy who was stuck in ice. The words echoed in his skull, bouncing in his brain. It wasn't true, was it? No, he was the avatar. If he wasn't, who was he? Was he just some flook in the cycle. He pushed the thoughts down, swallowing the rising anxiety. "I am the Avatar, and I don't have to explain myself." Aang said, the bitterness of his voice reaching Katara.
"Well we aren't letting you take her" Ty Lee said with a hmph at the end
Aang looked at the girls, positioned protectively around Azula's body. "Please Katara, don't make me fight you." He said sadly as he stared into the stormy orbs of her eyes
Katara shook the tears from her eyes. She didn't want to fight him either. He was her friend, someone she loved dearly. But, she couldn't allow Azula to suffer, La knows she had suffered enough already. The girl was so weak right now, and this would break her. Katara couldn't let that happen. She bit back the cry that was stuck in her throat. She had to do this, even if it meant betraying her friends and her brother. They would forgive her eventually.
"'I'm sorry Aang," she cried before rushing forward.
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"By all means, let's have a party here." Azula said angrily at the two spirits who always seemed to be fighting one another at her expense. "Or better yet," she paused, turning to face the
light spirit. "How bout you release me from this little prison so I can go and face the foolish boy who thinks he can betray me and get away with it." She hissed at the spirit who was looking at her sadly.
"You need only give him time to see what he has done wrong." The spirit said patiently with the young girl.
"How much time? Do I wait until I am imprisoned or executed." Azula paused, all the possibilities flooding her with worry. "Or more probable, they make some deal with my father to give me back to him." the anger and fear flooding her all at once, breaking the thin damn that held her from insanity.
"So no, I'm not listening to you," She glowerd at Raava. "It's your fault I'm in this mess. If I had not trusted you then I would be back at the fire nation living the life of a princess." Truefully, Azula was glad she escaped that place. But life was so much easier back then. "And you," she whirled around to face her father. "Don't even get me started on you!" she was screaming, her voice shrill to the ears of any passing spirit. Unnoticed by Azula, the once clear sky had become gathered with black clouds. Spirits flying over become morphed in red, reflecting the girls anger. "You were my fathers face and then tell me to trust you." She screamed, her anger painted so vividly across her face. "As if I could ever trust anyone with his face!" she screamed, not towards Vaatu but towards the sky. Her hands grasped her head as sudden nausea took over her. She felt the wave of her anger washing everything around her, and had to block it out. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to subside. And, eventually it did.
Only, when she opened her eyes it was not upon the vividly painted landscape she had just minutes ago been immersed in. and, her eyes were not her own Instead, she found herself trapped in what seemed to be a cellar, her eyes casting a black glow throughout the room.
Katara motioned with her fingers, pushing up a wall of ice. The boomerang bounced off the wall harmlessly, falling with a clank to the floor. She turned her icy gaze to her brother, his eyes reflecting hurt and betrayal.
All around them was chaos. Somehow, the fight had made its way up stairs, and everyone was just trying to figure out who was against them. The four Di Lee agents had been easily disposed of by Ty Lee, however Aang had backup. His backup happened to be to firebenders, an earthbender, and a guy with a boomerang. You would think they would have easily subdued the two non benders and Katara, however they were putting up a better fight than imagined. Ty Lee had taken out one of Sokka's arms and was currently facing off against him. Katara was working on Aang and Zuko, who made a surprisingly good team, while Mai worked on Toph and Iroh, the latter of the two fighting suspiciously bad for the earth rumble champion. But, no one had time to notice, to be absorbed in their own fighting.
Katara's ice wall transformed back into water and knocked under the younger firebenders leg, however he jumped, burning through the water with a hiss. Katara fell back as the connection to her element was severed, but being a waterbender, she knew how to adapt. Gritting her teeth, she drew the moisture from the air, pulling it around her body and freezing it as armor. She morphed the remaining moisture to spikes, aiming for the prince. She was ready to take the shot when a blast of wind knocked her down.
"Katara, you don't have to do this!" Ang yelled as he dodged the icicles his friend was shooting at him. She wasn't aiming for anything important as much as she was just aiming for his general vicinity. She didn't want to kill him, she was trying not to infact. She shook her head, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Your wrong Aang, if I don't do this, Azula will suffer more and I can't let that happen." She said, ducking to the side as a gust of wind burst towards her and sending as icicle back his way.
"That's not true, the earth kingdom will trade her for peace, she'll be sent back to Ozia!" Aang yelled back at her as he cut through the icicle with a slice of air.
Katara shook her head as she lunged back at him. "That's what I am afraid of."
Mai ducked as a bolder flew her way, dodging to the ground and rolling over to right herself. She pulled more knives from her sleeves, throwing them at the legs of the blind earthbender. She felt truly bad attacking the girl, and didn't want to hurt her more than she had to.
Before the knives reached the small girl, a flame cut through the air and corrupted their course. Iroh then turned his attention to the emotionless friend of his niece and sent hurdles of fire her way. She ducked under the flame and jumped behind a fallen table, however the force in which the fire hit the table sent it flying back. Her head slammed against the floor, and her world became dizzv.
Ty Lee had just finished disposing of Sokka when she was knocked back by a wall of flames. The flames burned through the flesh of her arms as she raised them to block herself and she released a blood curdling scream. The fighting stopped, and everyone stared at the sight. Ty Lee, her arms sizzling with a burn worse than the one on Zuko's face.
Katara instantly got off the ground and ran to the girl, pulling what little water was left to trail her. The second she got to Ty Lee's side, she began working the water on the wound.
Mai, world still spinning, attempted to rise to her feet. She heard her friends search but she didn't
know what was wrong. She tried walking but her legs buckled underneath her as she stood. "Ty Lee," her voice was edged with concern
Suddenly, the silence was interrupted by soft footsteps rising through the cellar door. A voice, the voice of a angered god, spoke, causing all heads to turn.
"The avatar, keeper of peace finds himself fighting against his friends, how the mighty have fallen." It spoke. The voice sounded different to each who heard it.
To Aang Sokka, sounded like Zhao, the man who had taken the moon from them. To Toph, it sounded like the scornful voice of her mother. To Iroh, the only one who could hear through the deception, it sounded like an angry spirit.. To Katara, it sounded like the man's voice, the same man who took away her mother all those years ago. And to Zuko, it sounded like his--
"Father," the words left his lips without his consent. No, it couldn't be. That may have been his fathers voice but those were Azula's lips moving, Azula's body that drew closer with every breath he took.
The spirit chuckled, a truly dark and disturbing sound. "Funny, that was who Azula saw too," the eyes of the girl/spirit/father? glinted with red and black. "He must have been some father, She was shaking when she thought I was him. My identity came as a relief to her." He smiled at the quaking humans before him, looking from one to another until they landed on the boy with the tattoo.
"And who is that?" an aged voice spoke up. The spirit didn't turn in the direction of the sound, but heard it nonetheless.
"I am Vaatu, spirit of darkness and chaos." The puppet body of Azulabent down so she was level with the boy. "Hello Raava.