Aang
Where am i ? Aang asked himself as he opened his eyes and groaned, he sat up holding his aching head not remembering anything or anyone at all, he was in a foggy place, not a trace of life anywhere within a hundred miles from his position, he kept holding his head, groaning and turning, that gruesome headache, what caused it ? he wouldn't know, his body was fine, not a trace of a wound anywhere, yet he felt the ache all the same, still on the ground he looked down to check his body of any possible wounds, only to give a startled gasp as his body was somewhat fading..
This isn't my physical body.. He acknowledged inwardly, he stood up panicking at the fact, looking everywhere, his surroundings couldn't actually be identified due to the fog, but he realized he was on top of a hill, suddenly, a light came near him, the panic intensified for Aang, he wasn't sure if this was a friendly or otherwise, the light came with intense speed, making the avatar take a few steps back, only to stop dead in his track at the ledge of the hill, soon the light came to an abrupt halt when it arrived in front of the horrified youngman, only for Aang to realize that the light wasn't actually a light..
as it transformed and took the form of a human, A female, with orange robes and an arrow tattoo on her forehead,
Strange. i could swear i've seen these tattoos somewhere. Aang thought as the woman made her way in front of him, he was still assuming a defense stance, not sure what he was doing but it felt like the right thing to do. The Woman then just laughed as she saw him taking his stance making Aang frown in confusion..
"What're you trying to do ? you can't bend in the spirit world, Avatar." Aang then raised an eyebrow again in confusion at pretty much everything the woman just said.
"Spirit World ? Avatar ? What're you talking about and where am i ?" Aang noticed his harsh tone, but he just couldn't care less for the moment, and the woman didn't seem to mind as she just kept smiling and giving Aang a look of understanding and... sadness.
"Oh, you don't remember, do you ? i assumed that would happen.." Aang still hasn't any clue what the lady was saying, but the arrow tattoos on her forehead gave him some kind of comfort towards her, he still wasn't sure why. "Let me touch your forehead and i'll make sure all your memories are restored." Aang still looked incredulously at the smiling woman, not sure what to do.
"How do i know i can trust you ?" Aang inquired, only for the woman's smile to widen.
"You already have when you saw my arrow tattoos, Youngman." Aang's eyes widened at how the woman knew his inner thoughts, but only for a few seconds later to agree of the woman's proposition, and getting on his knees to allow her to touch his forehead, the woman reciprocated with touching his forehead, suddenly her eyes and tattooes glowed with a magnificent white beam, Aang's eyes and tattoos following suit,
and before he knew it, he felt memories rushing back to his head, his days at the temple, his life before being informed he was the avatar, his bad relationships with the monks afterwards, Stopping Azulon's attempts to start another war and making peace with the other nations, learning all the elements and meeting all his friends, Yue, Iroh, Zuko, Azula, Toph, killing his first man, his days of solitude, meeting Katara, the war between humans and spirits, and finally the gruesome event that is this year's end of war celebrations..
After the woman finished the process, Aang yanked back with a gasp, he remembered everything, the good, the bad, the amazing, the hideous, everything, he remembered the rebel attack, The Firelord's betrayal and worst of all.. Yue's death, he felt the urge to cry, only to remember he was in the spirit world, so he can't cry, but a voice stopped his musings.
"Wishing you would have stayed with that amnesia, don't you ?" He raised his head to the woman that he forgot was still there, only for his eyes to widen again when he found that the woman with the familiar tattoos was none other than Avatar Yangchen, The Air nomad avatar before him.
"Avatar Yangchen.. ?" Aang breathed and the former avatar regarded him with a sad smile, knowing full well of his condition, and his well-being
"Welcome back, Young Avatar, we've been looking for you for so long." Aang regarded her with another shocked expression, not fully getting what the avatar was hinting at..
"So long ? How long have i been here ?" Aang asked weakly, his bad condition was unparalleled that he couldn't even find his voice at the moment.
Yangchen hesitated for a moment, before putting everything on the line and telling the avatar the truth. "For about 2 months of the physical world timing." Yangchen informed..
This was too much, Shock after Shock after Shock, had i gotten so many shocks with my physical body i don't think i'd have endured it. Aang thought bitterly, he slumped to his knees in front of Yangchen, she was having a bad time confronting him as it is, she never wanted to see him in his weakest state, but there they are, she went to his side and put a hand on his back to which Aang never flinched as he was so absorbed in self-pity at the moment.
"Come on, Avatar, don't make this harder than it's supposed to be." Yangchen informed, suddenlt Aang regarded her with dangerously narrowed eyes.
"Avatar ?! How could you call me that ?! How could you insult the avatar's name that way ?! I don't deserve it, i should've died alone but No. I had to take the avatar spirit with me !" Aang yelled, Yangchen raised an eyebrow at The Avatar's statement, but then realized he still doesn't know that he's still alive, because that wasn't part of his memories.
"The Avatar spirit isn't dead, Aang, you're not dead, both of you have been saved.." Aang raised his head from the ground clearly in shock and confusion so Yangchen continued.. "Your Waterbender companion saved your life after you passed out, your physical form is fine at the moment, but it's your spiritual form that needs healing, that's why you are still here." Aang had to take a moment to absorb all the information, he couldn't believe he's still alive but after all the shocks he just endured, what's one more ?
"What do you mean my spiritual form needs healing ?" The Avatar inquired, to which Yangchen gave a sad frown.
"When The Firelord shot you, your seventh chakra was locked, cutting off your connection to all the spiritual energy, and that happened to happen when you were in the avatar state, so Raava had to take sometime to find and connect with all the other avatars, i came here as soon as she connected with me." Yangchen informed with a sad frown, the same look reflecting on Aang's face.
"So, what you mean is i can't get into the avatar state anymore ?" Aang asked grievously.
"Yes, but i know you'll find a way to get it back, you always do." Yangchen encouraged with a smile, but Aang's state was far beyond sorrowful to return her smile.
"So, if Raava restored all her connection with the other avatars, that means she's fully healed so what am i still doing here ?" Aang asked incredulously, to which Yangchen looked back and refused any eye-contact with the young avatar, Aang didn't have any idea what was going on, but he was sure he wouldn't like what Yangchen was about to tell him.
"Because.. our greatest fear has happened, Aang." Yangchen informed looking depressed before continuing.. "Vattu has been set loose." Aang was at a loss of words, he just felt a lump in his throat that his physical body might have felt at the moment from the shock he received,
he had some time to regain his senses before he asked weakly.. "What ?"
"Yes, Aang, Raava was holding Vattu imprisoned in the tree of time, and her getting shot, set him loose." The former avatar informed grievously, but she decided to subside her grief to encourage the avatar that looked like was on the verge of a panic attack.. "But you still have time, you can still fix this." Yangchen said determinately.
"Fix this ?! You just said Vattu has been set loose, how in the world can i stop that beast ?! I don't even have the avatar state !" Aang shrieked, his panic taking over him as he slumped on the floor once more, only for Yangchen to take him roughly by the shoulders to force him to look her in the eyes.
"Of Course you can fix this, Avatar, for your world and ours, we trust you, Your life has been saved for a reason, can't you see that ? that reason is to save us all, Vattu is coming for both world, he's gathering an army at the moment but you still have time, The portals aren't opened yet and time in the spirit world doesn't go as time in the physical world, Vattu will take a lot of time raising an army, all the while you can fix your problems in the physical world, find another way to access the avatar state and raise an army to fight Vattu.. Please, Avatar, be filled with hope, you're the world's last chance, and i know the spirits' trust in you will be worth it." Yangchen finished her speech with a genuine encouraging smile, that Aang couldn't help but regain some of his confidence and with a determined nod he said..
"I'll try." with that Yangchen's smile widened and pulled him up to his feet.
"That's the spirit.. Literally." Yangchen quipped, making the avatar frown for a while to understand her joke, and then give a small smile despite his condition, "We'll keep on informing you of Vattu's movements and progressions as long as we can, and we'll try to help you unlock this chakra as well, you're the world's only hope, Aang, please don't disappoint the world." Yangchen finished with pleading eyes, and Aang nodded determination filling his eyes.
"Thank you, Avatar Yangchen, For everything." Aang said with an appreciative smile, and Yangchen returned it with a nod.
"Alright, that being said, i have a friend here that's been eager all day to bring you home." and before Aang could realize a familiar giant Panda spirit came out of nowhere and stood between him and Avatar Yangchen.
"Hei Bai !" Aang greeted the spirit with a hug and climbed his way to the top of it, but before he went on his way he had to ask a curious question to the avatar that came and brought him out of his misery.
"Um, just one question before i go, Yangchen." Aang inquired, to which the former avatar replied with a nod giving Aang the permission to ask.. "Why you ?" Yangchen tilted her head in confusion.
"I'm sorry ?" She gave a question of her own to the young avatar, who grabbed the back of his head nervously at her misunderstanding.
"No, No.. i meant Why out of all of Raava's connections, you were the one that answered the call and came to me ?" Aang explained his question.
"Because i was the nearest one to your location, Silly." Yangchen said with a chuckle.
"Oh, that makes sense then.." Aang scratched the back of his neck giving a nervous laugh..
"Farewell, Avatar, we believe in you." Yangchen said moments later waving with a genuine encouraging smile, to which the avatar waved back and then ordered Hei Bai to move and get him home, unknowingly to him, that after he left Yangchen's smile turned to a sad frown remembering the disaster Vattu already started in the spirit world.
Zuko
Two Months.. Two Months of rotting in this damn prison. Mused Zuko as he was resting his head on a the wall of the prison cell, fiddling with his growing hair, touching the scar that he's starting to come to terms with on the left side of his face, when they removed the bandages and saw it for the first time, it was like a nightmare, he even closed his eyes for some time waiting, hoping it'd be just one of his nightmares, and he just might wake up any moment,
but alas, it was no nightmare, it was the real deal, Aang is dead, The World leaders are dead, him and his friends imprisoned and his father is plotting to take over the world, but nonetheless, Beauty does come out of ashes, as good things came from his stay in prison..
his relationship with his sister improved widely, they finally started to have the brother-sister moments Zuko was hoping for, Azula visited him more often, She even brought Mai with her twice just to see Zuko's happy face once again as risky as it is, but Zuko saw the genuine happiness on her face when she saw him talking comfortably to Mai, as hard as she might try to hide it, Azula does have a heart..
but none of this mattered now, it's been two months since he's been thrown to that prison, there had to be a way to get out of here, someone had to figure out something, he was starting to feel the mind-manipulative prison feelings, he started to think he was going crazy, maybe his father was right, maybe he was too soft to be Firelord, if a Prison in the middle of the Firenation did that to him, what'd ruling do to him ? He was so afraid, anxious and tired, Prison life can be tough sometimes, he felt that all over his body from the flogging, the beating, the electrocuting.. Yes, Firenations prisons can be so hard sometimes with their methods of torture, he's seen first-hand what happens to war prisoners.
Yes, he was considered a war-prisoner, and he assumed same can be said for Toph and Iroh.. Although Azula told him that Toph was receiving a more gentle treatment because of her father's 'influence' on the Firenation, but he doubted it, maybe it was 'more gentle', but not actually gentle,
suddenly two guards came to the front of Zuko's cell, Zuko was startled thinking they came to torture him more, he brought his head up from the wall instinctively thinking the worst, but then another presence made visible known in front of Zuko's line of sight, his eyes were now as wide as large plates as he recognized the figure that was standing in front of him, his mouth was agape and his head tilted slightly in confusion before he finally breathed the words..
"Father.. ?" The Firelord smirked in return watching Zuko's reaction.
"I suppose i don't need guards for this visit, dismissed." He said motioning for the two guards to wait for him outside, all the while Zuko was still at shock and couldn't find the appropriate words to say..
"What're you doing here ?" Zuko demanded as his father was grabbing a nearby chair to set in front of the former Prince, only the cell between them.
"Really ? that's the first thing you say to me after two months of absence ? you're breaking your old man's heart." The Firelord taunted, mockingly wiping a tear from his eye, Zuko watched as he placed the chair in front of the cell and took a seat, Zuko has had enough..
"STOP YOUR MIND GAMES AND ANSWER ME ! WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE ?!" Zuko shouted as loud as his lungs could manage, he was too exhausted but the sudden apperance of his father ignited some inner energy inside him, The energy of hate.
"Alright, Alright, take it easy, tough man." His father was actually chuckling at his response, like he was still mocking him which earned him a death glare from Zuko, so The Firelord continued with a serious expression.. "Believe it or not, i just came to check on you, Zuko." The Firelord stated, but Zuko wasn't having any of that..
"I said don't play mind games !" Another shout escaped Zuko's lips, as he closed his fists tightly, feeling the rage and anger build up inside him.
"I'm not playing any, i came here to check on you, why's that so hard to beleive ?" The Firelord informed calmly, his expression still serious.
Zuko tapped his chin bitterly.. "Oh, Let me see, maybe the fact that you've never liked me, and you were the reason i'm in this wretched cell in the first place receiving all this torture.." The Prince informed with teary eyes but managed to blink them away in time before being seen. "And the fact that you were the reason that my face is now deformed !" Zuko shouted again, but then silence ensued, and at the silence Zuko slumped back to rest his back and head on the wall of the prison cell.
"I never meant for it to happen that way, you stood in my way, and i promised myself to never let anything stand in the way of my plans, even if it were you or Azula." Zuko widened his eyes at his father's whispered confession, his father has never been this sensitive, Hell, he's never remembered a time when his father showed emotion at all.
"Supposing i believe that you actually care about me, Why're your plans so important to you ? why do you want to destroy the world ?!" Zuko blamed in a high-pitched tone once again, but this time his father's calm and relaxed posture turned into one of anger, one of which Zuko knew very well.
"I don't want to destroy the world, i'm trying to save it !" The Firelord barked, gaining a bitter laugh from Zuko.
"Really ? And i'm supposed to beleive that ?" Zuko asked his face still showing bitterness.
"Yes, You should." The Firelord informed calmly before standing up from the chair and pace around the chamber. "Believe it or not, but we don't have all the materials to supply our people with what they need, so we get the rest of them from the earth kingdom and the water tribes, But the world has been in complete disarray for a very long time, rebels have been everywhere through the earth kingdoms and the water tribes attacking and killing our Import companies' workers, killing everyone of them and sabotaging our machines, If the earth kingdom and the water tribes can't defend our import goods, then we can't have any of them, which forces us to try doing something about it." The Firelord finished throwing his hand in the air trying to get his point to Zuko, but Zuko still didn't have any of that.
"So, if you want to import some goods from another nation, and the nation can't defend your imported goods and workers, so the answer is to kill their leader and takeover their cities ?" Zuko inquired, wondering how more cruel can this man get.
"If they can't protect themselves and their people, then they should be replaced." The Firelord argued.
"Replaced by people from their nations, not by outside invaders !"
"What if their people are as ignorant and shallow minded ? Think about it, Zuko, The Firenation is the highest authority in the world, now why do you think it's so ? Because we have competent leaders and rulers that make it a great place, much can't be said for the rest of the nations." Zuko felt he was at a loss of words for a moment, but he managed to continue the debate with his father.
"You still don't have the right to choose for these people, by invading their lands you're not turning it to a better place, you're throwing the whole world into chaos !"
"You're finally starting to understand, Zuko, sometimes Chaos is exactly what the world needs to be a better place." Zuko was so silent, he seriously didn't know how to respond to this madness.
"What ?" He managed to breath that word.
"I'm not just going to invade these lands, Zuko, I'm taking it gradually.. Till the people of the earth kingdom and the water tribes beg me to rule them." The Firelord finished with a satisfied smirk, making Zuko groan in discomfort.
"Explain more." Demanded the former prince, silently believing he wouldn't like the answer, but The Firelord just smiled and decided to tell Zuko his plans.
"Even though the world leaders are dead, neither the earth kingdom nor The Watertribes are ruled by The Firenation at the moment, they're ruled by some confidants of ours, some confidants that will ensure those nations descend into chaos and more disarray, and after that, The Firenation will offer their help and support to end this chaos and make sure discipline and order return to the world and The Firenation will become the public hero they're supposed to be, and then.. and that's how we will takeover the other nations." The Firelord revealed his plans, making Zuko's eyes widen as large as plates, he had to silently admit, as mad and cruel as his father is, he was an evil genius.
"But how'd the other nations forget that you were the reason behind this chaos in the first place after killing the world leaders and the avatar ?" Zuko inquired silently hating this question as it made him remember Aang once again. he closed his eyes for mere moments before opening them again.
"That's why we have confidants ruling the earth kingdom and the water tribes, to make sure these are just rumors." The Firelord Responded
"But how can you fully expect that the people would buy that ?" Zuko asked.
"We don't, but we have to have faith, and because our intentions are genuine and just, i have no doubt that in the end we'll be rewarded." The Firelord stated, making Zuko snort.
"Yeah, Genuine and Just. Father, you don't have to lie to me, there is no one else in here." Zuko kept chuckling bitterly as he said so.
"And why would you think i mean otherwise ?" The Firelord inquried anger flashed on his face for mere seconds before disappearing.
"I don't think so, Father, i know so.. since when do you care about anyone but yourself ?"
"I care about Azula. and i cared about you enough to come and check on you." The Firelord stated his feelings looking genuine, but Zuko knew more than that.
"You're still trying to convince me with that ? Please, stop trying." Zuko stated calmly, making The Firelord groan.
"You see that's why i never liked you all this time ! Because you never appreciated my efforts, and your mother has always been your safety net and not me !" The Firelord groaned at his confession, but he had to let Zuko know.
"What're you talking about ? All my life, i've sought nothing more than your approval, but you always shunned me or put me down !" Zuko argued.
"Because you were just another soft boy hiding behind his mother's skirts, well, i suppose it's a good thing she got killed." The Firelord informed before he could hold himself, only to regret those words as Zuko's face twisted into an unreadable expression, he was beyond shock and anger and every possible feeling there is, that his face turned blank.
"What ?" Zuko breathed out, wanting nothing but to shoot down his father at this very moment, if it wasn't for the chamber that's blocking the rays of the sun making his Firebending very weak, he'd have shot his father immediately without hesitation, as his father just confirmed his assumptions all these years.
"I suppose i owe you a confession now, don't i ?" The Firelord asked calmly, making Zuko giving him his full attention.
"What happened to my mother ?" Zuko inquired fully anticipating a story.
"You wouldn't like that." Zuko thought of something to make the firelord open up, and that's angering him.
"JUST TELL ME THE STORY, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING SON OF A BITCH !" Zuko shouted at his father suddenly jumping to the front of the cell and clinging to the metal as if in an attempt to break it.
"You dare talk to me that way, Boy !" The Firelord Stood up once again his voice raising, Zuko thought his plan was working.
"JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO HER !"
"I KILLED HER !"
Zuko's face turned blank, slumped back to rest his limp body on the wall of the cell, tears suddenly falling freely from his eyes while staring to the roof with an expressionless face, he never spoke after that, but the firelord felt so obliged to tell him the entire story.
"After I killed Iroh's son.." Zuko didn't even snap his head up at The Firelord's sudden confession, he was still in shock he couldn't speak, so The Firelord continued.. "I asked my father, Firelord Azulon to make me his heir to The Firenation throne, explaining that Iroh can't have children anymore, while i have two, he refused but more than that he was enraged so he demanded that i suffer the same as Iroh, and kill my own son, and i had no choice but to do it, so your mother interjected and proposed a plan to remove the former Firelord and make me the new one, so we went on with the plan and it worked, but then after a while your mother started making threats, everytime we argued she threatened me to expose me to the public.. so i went on with her threats, but silently planning her murder, and then i went on with my plans and sent a couple of assassins after her and the rest is history." The Firelord finished his eyes glued on the floor,
Zuko was still at a loss of words, he still doesn't know what to do or say, his head returned to its usual place, resting on the wall of the cell, before he weakly breathed out four words.
"I will kill you." Zuko's body was still so limp to shout the words so he breathed them out weakly but enough for The Firelord to hear, The Firelord then lifted his head, flashing a look of shock at first, but then decided to calm his posture, and mock the prince instead.
"You'll try, My young prince, looks like the father-son moment i planned failed, Oh well, better prepare for your execution then after i execute your uncle and friend, Farewell, Future Firelord." The Firelord said with a smirk,
his plans were exposed but Zuko knew earlier that his father didn't come to this cell to bond with him, he had a plan and his plan failed when his tongue slipped and he told me the truth behind my mother's disappearance, looks like not matter how much intelligence my father stores inside his brain, his hatred towards me would always make him slip up, soon The Firelord stood up from his chair and made his way to the door, but before he got out, Zuko managed to make him hear those four words once again.
"I WILL KILL YOU !" This time he shouted them, making The Firelord cast him an evil smile before sliding out of the room, Zuko then slumped back to his usual resting place, but this time he rest his head on the floor, laying down, crying in agony, but his Promise still stands.
He will kill his father.
